Learners at the Rivoni School for the Blind in Njakanjaka village near Elim will have to endure the conditions in their dilapidated prefabricated classrooms for a while longer. Their new, R168-million state-of-the-art school is not yet finished, and a further R29-million has been set aside to complete the project.
The project, awarded to Clear Choice Builders (CCB), was initially scheduled for completion in June 2024. More than a year later, it remains unfinished. Workers say they have not been paid for 12 months and that building materials were stolen.
"We've gone 12 months without being paid," said one worker, who asked not to be named. "We were told we'd be paid, but it was just an empty promise. Some of us are breadwinners, and I'm now looking for another job."
At the start of construction, two Rivoni Society for the Blind offices were demolished. They were rebuilt, but without a formal handover, and tiles have since been removed. Members of the project steering committee say they doubt the project will be finished.
"This project does not seem likely to be finished anytime soon, and even the promises made are uncertain," said committee member Joshua Chavalala. "The project has been abandoned for months. We recovered stolen materials like zinc from local residents, taken by workers trying to compensate themselves. The contractor clearly cannot finish the job, and we are urging the Department of Education to intervene."
The Independent Development Trust (IDT), which oversees the project, confirmed that a new subcontractor was appointed in May 2025, with a revised completion date of 10 December 2025.
Rivoni is one of only a few public schools for blind learners in Limpopo and plays a vital role in inclusive education. Despite the difficult conditions, the school has maintained a 100% matric pass rate for several years.
According to Manyane Chidi, Limpopo regional general manager of the IDT, the project is 86% complete. Outstanding work includes the eye clinic and external infrastructure. He said the main contractor had encountered financial difficulties and was placed under business rescue.
Chidi said penalties might be applied in line with the JBCC contract signed between the IDT and CCB. "The total budget allocated to the contractor is R168,671,539, as per the appointment letter. A variation order was approved for an additional R29,273,133 for the eye clinic, bringing the total to R197,944,672," he said.
During a recent visit to the site, it was clear that the eye clinic still has no completed foundation. To date, the IDT has paid the contractor R157,200,720, or about 79% of the revised contract value. Chidi stressed that the IDT does not contract or pay subcontractors and cannot interfere in disputes over their wages.
"Subcontractors and workers must resolve disputes directly with the main contractor. The IDT cannot interfere in those agreements," he said. He added that the budget was controlled by the Department of Basic Education, not the IDT, and that there was no need for an independent audit.
"The delays are a result of the contractor's financial issues — not mismanagement by the IDT. The IDT has fulfilled its obligations, paying all invoices for work completed," he said.
Limpopo Department of Education spokesperson Mike Maringa said the school's status as a special-needs facility justified the high budget. While the IDT estimates completion at 86%, he placed it closer to 93%.
"The delays are due to financial constraints faced by the contractor. Penalties will definitely be imposed; it is standard practice," he said.