MAHIKENG — Questions have been raised about a R16.2 million contract for repairs at Seshupo Primary School in Tshunyane village after parents, community leaders and people involved with the project said the work completed appears limited to painting and re‑roofing a number of classrooms using largely existing materials.
Community says visible work is minimal
The school, which serves about 600 pupils, dates back to the 1960s and comprises three classroom blocks, an administration block and a Grade R facility. According to local residents and the project’s community liaison officer, the renovation did not include the extensive rebuilding many expected.
In September 2025 the provincial department of education appointed a management consortium for the project, an appointment letter signed by the department’s superintendent‑general, Lengane Bogatsu, shows. The contract was valued at R16.2 million, inclusive of a 10% management fee and VAT.
Parents and staff said the work visible at the school does not reflect that level of expenditure. The community liaison officer, Plakie Buchere, estimated the value of actual materials and visible work at a fraction of the contract amount.
"My estimate is that the work delivered does not amount to more than R1.5 million, excluding labour," said the project’s community liaison officer Plakie Buchere.
Scope and schedule in appointment documents
The appointment schedule, seen by reporters, allocates funds across classroom and administration blocks. The document lists specific amounts for different sections of the school.
| School section | Allocated amount |
|---|---|
| Four‑classroom block | R2.41 million |
| Five‑classroom block | R2.96 million |
| Three‑classroom block | R2.05 million |
| Administration block | R497,311 |
| Existing Grade R classroom block | R1.16 million |
Safety concerns previously disrupted schooling
In July 2025 parents stopped sending their children to classes because they feared for their safety. A school hall that had been converted into two classrooms remains severely damaged and was excluded from the recent renovations, community members said.
School staff and parents say inspections of the quality and completeness of the works were either not carried out or not shared with the community. That lack of transparency has compounded distrust about what the contract covered and how funds were spent.
What residents want
Residents and parent groups are calling for:
- an independent inspection of the completed works and remaining defects;
- public disclosure of the full scope of the contract and invoices for work completed;
- an explanation from the provincial education department about the apparent gap between allocated funds and visible repairs.
The concerns centre not only on money but on learners’ safety and the effective use of education funds. Parents say children have been disadvantaged by interrupted learning and by inadequate facilities for pupils with special needs.
Department and consortium yet to respond
At the time of publication there was no public response from the North West education department or from the appointed management consortium addressing community concerns or providing a breakdown of how the R16.2 million was spent. The appointment letter and schedule in the documents indicate the department authorised the consortium to manage the project in late 2025.
For now, the school continues to operate while parents and community leaders press for clarity. The dispute highlights wider anxieties in the province about procurement, contract management and oversight of capital works at public schools.
Further reporting will follow if the department or consortium provides a detailed cost breakdown or if an independent inspection is carried out.
