Unhappy parents and learners gathered outside the gates of the newly built Blueridge Primary School in Wallacedene, demanding priority enrolment for their children two weeks ago.
Image: Henk Kruger / African News Agency
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has pledged to begin the first phase of three additional schools as part of their Rapid School Building Programme by the end of March.
This commitment follows the successful opening of seven new schools earlier in 2025, as part of the initiative aimed at addressing growing demand for educational infrastructure in the province.
The WCED has been granted an additional R2.549 billion provisional allocation for the project.
Speaking on behalf of the WCED, spokesperson Kerry Mauchline confirmed that the department is well on track to meet its ambitious targets for 2025. Seven new schools have already been completed, with a further three expected to be finished by the end of the first term.
"We are making good progress with our Rapid Build Programme," Mauchline said.
"Not only have we opened seven new schools, but we have also expanded the capacity of existing schools by adding 185 new classrooms, with 85 more under construction."
Among the completed schools is Ashton Vocational Academy, a school designed to provide vocational training, which was completed through a public-private partnership in the Cape Winelands.
The school officially opened in January 2025.
The new schools completed in the first phase of the programme include:
-Ashton Vocational Academy (Cape Winelands)
-Masifunde Primary School (Metro East)
-Blue Ridge Primary School (Metro East)
-Happy Valley No. 2 Primary School (Metro East)
-Blue Downs High School (Metro East)
-Vuyiseka High School No. 2 (Metro South)
-Darling High School (West Coast)
Bronagh Hammond, WCED spokesperson, provided further details on Blue Ridge Primary School, which has recently been at the centre of attention, following protests iover placement issues.
Located opposite Solomon Mahlangu Primary School, the new school development has been an important focus for residents, whose children needed to be transferred from Solomon Mahlangu Primary School.
The WCED has been granted an additional R2.549 billion provisional allocation for the Rapid School Build programme in the province.
Image: Supplied
"Recently, the community was given the opportunity to transfer Grade R-3 learners from Solomon Mahlangu Primary to the new Blue Ridge Primary School," Hammond explained.
"The transfer process is already underway, and learners from these grades are now being taught at the new school. We are in discussions with the school community regarding the transfer of Grade 4-7 learners, which is expected to happen once construction is fully completed."
The new school development has been welcomed by Khalid Sayed, leader of the opposition in the Western Cape Legislature.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress and reaffirmed that the WCED had responded positively to the concerns of parents.
“We are pleased to announce that, following our correspondence with the South African Human Rights Commission and the Children’s Commission of the Western Cape, the Department of Education has met with parents and agreed to open the Blue Ridge Primary School facility without delay.
“Learners from Solomon Mahlangu Primary School will now be able to make use of this facility,” Sayed said.
“The transfer of learners to Blue Ridge Primary School is expected to be completed by the end of August 2025, as the site remains under construction.”
Looking ahead, three more schools are still under construction, with their first phase slated for completion by the end of March. These schools include:
-Blue Berry Hill High School (Metro East)
-Leiden Junior High School (Metro North)
-Kilimanjaro High School (Metro South)
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus
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