Manenberg community celebrates progress of new School of Skills project

The community of Manenberg has welcomed the development of a new School of Skills, currently under construction in the area.

Although the journey has not been without challenges, including rumours and misinformation, the public liaison committee representing Manenberg says the project, which began in 2022, is progressing well.

Liaison officer Salama Jones said delays had occurred due to issues with the initial construction company, but she dismissed claims that extortion was the cause. Instead, she attributed the setbacks to the former contractor's mismanagement.

“We want to update the community that all is well. We know there are rumours circulating that the construction has stopped, but that is simply not true. We are happy with the progress,” she said.

Committee chairperson Andrew May described the ongoing work as a “blessing in disguise,” adding that the development was long overdue. He said that the project has brought significant benefits to the community.

“This is a huge investment for our community. What is remarkable is that everyone working here is local. We have not experienced any incidents or violence. We are happy because our people secured jobs through this project,” he said.

Mr May credited the smooth progress of the construction to the dedication of community members and the committees involved. He expressed hope that, “by God’s grace,” the school could be completed as early as next year.

“The work being done here is driven by this community. The school is for our people and for generations to come. This will be the legacy of this committee and the people of Manenberg. People must stop believing the lies about shootings and extortion on this site - there is no such thing,” he said.

He thanked the residents of Manenberg for their continued support, noting that the project would not be possible without them.

Community member Yusuf Hope said the school’s progress reflects positive development in Manenberg and challenges outdated perceptions of the area.

“Certain people want to discredit Manenberg. There has been all sorts of propaganda against the progress here. But the perception has changed - people want development. You can see this flower is starting to bloom,” Mr Hope said.

He encouraged the community to continue supporting both the committee and the construction process, stressing that the new school would play a crucial role in shaping the future success of Manenberg’s children.