Central University of Technology, Free State

Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Resource and Operations

Communique: Construction on CUT Campuses

 

DoE 140 Infrastructure Programme

 

Our 25 June Communiqué promised that CUT’s two campuses at Bloemfontein and Welkom would be abuzz with construction activity in order to improve the conditions for teaching and learning.  This improvement in infrastructure also accords with the University’s Strategic Set 1 whose transformation objective is to improve fitness for purpose.  The building buzz, as you have noticed proceeds apace at the Bloemfontein campus.  The Student Academic Support Centre is rising!

 

The second of the six building projects has begun with the construction of the Teachers Education Academic and Student Support Centre in Welkom.  A tender process awarded the bid to Satena Contractors who are a company from Henneman near Welkom.  The site was handed over to the company on 12 August 2009 and the construction period is expected to be thirteen months.  Practical completion date of the R29 116 175.03 building is estimated to be 12 September 2010.

 

As with the Student Academic Support Centre on the Bloemfontein campus, the designs of this building will be placed on the University’s intranet.  It promises to be a beautiful two-storey building with a student support centre on the ground level furnished with computers, laboratories, open student study spaces and a reading laboratory.  The next level, first floor, will be a teacher’s education centre with various laboratories, offices and work spaces.

 

We are hoping that the third of the six projects in the DoE 140 Infrastructure Programme will begin soon on the Bloemfontein campus.  This will be the extension of the Dirk Coetzee Building that houses programmes in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences.  The last three of the projects will begin in the course of this and the following year.  More will be said on these in the next Communiqué installment.

 

Other Construction Activities

 

You will have noticed other construction activities on both campuses.  Driving along President Brand Street passed our Absa Park Stadium you cannot miss the foundation being laid for the construction of a wall around the park.  As you know, CUT is a training venue the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 and the wall is a FIFA requirement.  The construction, and other improvements of the stadium, has been made possible by a grant from Lotto.  The improved stadium will be a wonderful legacy for CUT and its surrounding community. 

 

 

In order to secure the Bloemfontein campus, all its perimeter fencing is being replaced with a devil’s fork type fence.  This work will be finished at the end of September 2009.

 

There is also other construction on the Welkom campus.  Some five years ago during the incorporation of the Welkom Vista campus into CUT, the first phase of replacing the fencing around the campus was started.  This project will now be completed with the start of the second phase which will last until next month. 

 

I hope everyone is enjoying the dawn of spring as I am on this the month of my birth.

 

 

Mojalefa Ralekhetho

Acting DVC: Resources and Operations

03 September 2009