Parliament, Tuesday , 18 August 2026 – The KwaZulu-Natal delegation of permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has noted significant progress at Woodlands Primary School in Pietermaritzburg, with the completion project moving forward following undertakings made after the NCOP’s previous oversight visit.
This development was among the key findings on the first day of the NCOP’s 2026 Provincial Week oversight programme in KwaZulu-Natal, which is focused on verifying whether commitments made during previous parliamentary oversight visits have been implemented.
The Woodlands Primary School project was previously visited by the NCOP on 19 November 2025. During that visit, the Department of Education was required to ensure funding for the completion of the project, while the Department of Public Works was required to procure a contractor for the outstanding works. Both undertakings have now been fulfilled.
A new completion contract was awarded to Zibonephi Projects & Business Enterprise, and the site was handed over to the contractor on 27 July 2026. The contractor is currently undertaking site establishment and preparing to begin the remaining construction work.
The delegation assessed the completion contract as on track, with the realistic overall completion date set for 27 October 2027. The project is being implemented in three phases, with the first phase expected to be completed and occupied in November 2026, the second phase in July 2027 and the final phase in October 2027.
Delegation leader Mr Mzamo Billy welcomed the progress, stating the project demonstrates the value of sustained parliamentary oversight and follow-up. He cautioned, however, that the NCOP would continue monitoring the project closely to ensure that the revised timelines are honoured and that the community receives the school infrastructure it has been promised.
The current progress follows a difficult history for the project. The original contractor, Uhlanga Trading, was terminated after failing to comply with a number of contractual obligations, including failure to adhere to the construction programme and quality standards. At the time of termination, the project was approximately 70% physically complete, with expenditure of approximately R31.15 million against the original contract value of R42.95 million. The new completion contract is valued at approximately R43.09 million, including VAT. Cost increases are attributable to escalation between 2019 and 2026, alongside variation orders relating to the remeasurement of earthworks and the introduction of smart boards.
The delegation will continue its verification work tomorrow, Wednesday 19 August 2026, with an oversight visit to the Umkomaas Water Project to assess progress since the NCOP’s previous intervention. The itinerary will also include institutional engagements with King Cetshwayo District Municipality and uMhlathuze Local Municipality, alongside physical site inspections at the Aquadene Housing Project in Richards Bay and the Mega Housing Project in Empangeni.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE LEADER OF THE KZN DELEGATION, MR MZAMO BILLY.
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