MFA Property Developers was contracted by the Ekurhuleni Department of Education to construct new facilities at a government primary school — addressing critical infrastructure backlogs and providing a safe, functional learning environment for over 600 learners.
Project Background
The school had been operating with severely inadequate facilities — overcrowded classrooms, dilapidated ablution blocks, and no dedicated assembly or multipurpose space. Following a departmental audit, MFA was appointed through a competitive tender process to deliver a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade under the Department of Public Works' school build programme.
The project was completed during an active school year, requiring strict phasing and site separation to ensure learner safety at all times.
Scope of Work
- Eight new double-classroom units with natural ventilation, acoustic ceilings and built-in storage
- Separate male, female and staff ablution block — fully tiled with hot and cold water
- One multi-purpose hall with a laminated timber floor, stage, and folding partition wall
- Covered walkways connecting all new structures to the existing school buildings
- Perimeter fencing upgrade and new access-controlled main gate
- Stormwater management and landscaping of the new construction zone
Construction Highlights
The multi-purpose hall posed the greatest structural challenge — a 22-metre clear-span roof requiring a purpose-designed steel portal frame, erected by MFA's in-house steel crew over four weekends to avoid impacting school operations. The portal frame was fabricated off-site and craned into position in a single day.
All work was carried out under a Construction Management Plan approved by the Department of Education, with daily safety briefings, dedicated learner exclusion zones and weekly progress reports submitted to the client's project manager.
Outcome
The project was handed over on schedule and within the approved contract sum. The new facilities were inaugurated by the MEC for Education in a ceremony attended by the school community. MFA has since been placed on the Department's approved contractor database for future school infrastructure projects in the Ekurhuleni District.
"The quality of workmanship exceeded our expectations. MFA's team was professional, punctual and responsive throughout the entire project. Our learners now have facilities they deserve."