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The opening of the Soshanguve East Secondary School fulfills the promise to the people of Gauteng that we will open a new school once every month. This is the fourth school opened since July 2016. The other schools were Garankuwa Primary School, Nellmapius Secondary School, Bophelong New Secondary School and the Nomzamo Madikizela Mandela Primary School.

MEC Mamabolo has issued the Gauteng Department of Education with a certificate of completion of construction of the more than R105 million state of the art facility. This document certifies that the construction of the school is complete, in compliance with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) requirements and specifications.

Soshanguve East Secondary School is located in the Northern Development Corridor of Gauteng Region (Tshwane) and the school caters for approximately 1 200 learners from Grade 8 to Grade 12.

The school is a modern information technology ready facility with a design based on a prototype that incorporates the Department of Education National Schools Infrastructure Norms and Standards. The school falls in the mega school category due to size that responds to the demand trends encountered across the province. The school boasts the following unique facilities and features:
-  30 Classrooms (Junior Block G (Grade 8 and 9’s) with 12 classrooms, Senior Block H with 18 classrooms)

-  2 Science laboratories
-  2   Multi-purpose rooms
-  1 Computer  Laboratory
-  IT Control Room
-   A Library
-   Nutrition Centre with Dining Hall
-   School Hall
-   Concrete palisade fence
-   Covered walkways
-   Sports facility
-   Soccer and rugby field
-   Combi courts
-   Plant Room

The school is also a green school with the following:
-          Roof Insulation (reduces energy loss from the buildings)
-          Glazing (that maximises natural light into the building and reduces energy loss from the building)
-          Energy saving lighting (LED Light fittings)
-          Rainwater harvesting
-          Landscaping
-          Insulated walls for heat conservation and soundproof.
-          120m3 Underground Rainwater Harvesting Tank

The total cost of the project is R 106 million, a worthwhile investment for the future gold of our economy, our learners. The success of the project has been the direct involvement of the people in the planning, implementation and ongoing management of the facilities. The economic benefits during construction included:

· A total of 185 jobs were created: 40 male adults, 28 female adults, 50 male youth, 65 female youth and 2 youth with disabilities.

· 14 local sub-contractors were appointed (3 electrical, 6 brickwork/paving subcontractors, 4 plaster subcontractors, 1 carpentry and joiner subcontractor

Soshanguve East Secondary School is amongst the many state of the art new-templates for secondary schools, opened by MEC Panyaza Lesufi and MEC Jacob Mamabolo in recent months, as we strive towards opening one new modern school every month until 2019. This infrastructural provisioning will play a significant role in alleviating pressure from our schools. It is important noting that the unique school features include smart classrooms, smart science labs, sports facilities, and green facilities, among others.

These township schools boast high-end learning facilities, and seek to reinforce sentiments echoed by MEC Lesufi that, “Our learners will get quality education where they reside.”

“The provision of schools with modern facilities in townships will go a long way to improve and transform the quality of education in the townships. It will also have an economic impact and assist to stimulate the township economy,” says MEC Lesufi.

“We are prioritising township education because we do not want our people to be exposed to technology or experience utilisation of tablets and computers for the first time at university.  Through the investment we are making; our leaners, the future gold who must develop future technology to benefit their community and take this country forward,” MEC Lesufi continued.

MEC Jacob Mamabolo encouraged the community to protect the school against any vandalism. “This is your school. You, the community of Soshanguve, have a responsibility to protect the school and promote the smooth education of our children. Should we ever hear that the school was burnt down, we will not build you another one,” said MEC Mamabolo.

Issued by Gauteng Departments of Education and Department of Infrastructure Development