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