The mother of two children who go to Tholimfundo Primary School in Protea Glen, Soweto, has detailed the pain of seeing her offspring learn in cramped mobile classrooms – just as she did as a child.
Kwanele Mhlambi, 25, was a pupil at the school from 2003 to 2009. She attended the school just three years after it was built. It had 13 classrooms.
She said there was no sports ground and about 40 pupils were packed into one class.
Sanitation was a problem as the toilets were few and had water running on the floor.
When she started doing grade 4, her class was accommodated in the mobile classrooms that are still being used today.
Mhlambi still remembers that there were as many as 50 pupils in one mobile classroom which they called amazozo (shacks).
“Amazozo gave us a hard time. When it is cold, they were extremely cold. When it is summer they were hot. Some pupils would faint because of the heat and others would start bleeding through their noses. We had no choice but to stay in the classroom.
“Winter was worse. Windows were broken and the doors could not close. We had to endure that because we wanted to learn,” Mhlambi said.
On Thursday, Sowetan reported about the plight of Tholimfundo Primary which was built in 2000 with only 13 brick and mortar classrooms which formed part of the first phase.
The second phase was supposed to follow but it has not materialised.
Currently, there are 14 mobile classrooms used by 508 pupils in grade 4 to grade 7. There are also 14 dilapidated mobile classrooms which are not being used as they are unsafe.
Sanitation is still a problem as there are a few toilets catering for over 1,000 children.
Mhlambi said she brought her children to the same school because of the dedication shown by the teachers.
“Teachers here can teach. I will never criticise them. They do their work diligently. I brought my children here because I know they will get the best foundation for their education.
“We’ve been complaining about getting brick and mortar classes for years but nothing has happened. Other schools in the township have been fixed… I am scared that my children will finish their schooling in Tholimfundo without seeing the new classrooms just like I did. It is painful to see my children go through what I went through as a child. No parent wants their children to suffer as they did,” Mhlambi said.
Gauteng department of education spokesperson Steve Mabona said only 13 classrooms were built instead of 25 as a common practice to stretch the budget and build more schools in the townships.
“The school is currently undergoing planning and design processes, which are expected to be concluded in the 3rd quarter of the 2023 financial year. Our officials conducted several meetings with parents, updating them on developments. It must also be noted that, in 2020, the department replaced the old mobile units and fixed ablution plumbing challenges at the school,” Mabona said.
He said there has been budgetary provision for the schools which was used for preparing a site development plan, site assessment and traffic impact assessment.
Mabona said plans are afoot to start construction which will include classrooms, toilets, a laboratory, library, nutrition centre and sports facilities.
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