The Mngazi schools, consisting of a comprehensive technical school and a primary school, was opened in March 2002 after Mandela approached banking giant Absa for funding. While the technical school, which was only used for the first time last year is still in a good condition, the junior school at the same premises is a shadow of its former self.

Mngazi Primary School's manager Thamsanqa Mvokwe said the bad condition of the buildings does not only offer many challenges with regards to teaching, but also poses serious threats to the safety of learners and teachers.

"In some classrooms the lights switches have been broken, and now live electrical wires are sticking out of the walls. Without a switch people are forced to connect these two wires by hand every time they wish to turn the lights on," said Mvokwe. When The Herald visited the school this method did however not work either as there was no electricity at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out of 10 classrooms only one did not have a broken door, and broken windows could be spotted all around. Besides broken lights switches, some electrical sockets in the walls also had exposed wires.

In the far corner of the premises, away from the classrooms, a structure was built housing the broken remains of the school's long-drop toilets. A foul smell hang around filthy toilets of which not one had a door, as only the hinges remained on the door frames. Next to the structure more toilets were built, but were broken and filled with rubbish before they could be put to use.

The path between classes and toilets itself is dangerous for the primary school children, as large cattle and vagrant dogs walk around freely, with rusty barbed wire lying hidden in the grass of the overgrown premises.

While Mvokwe said they were appreciative of being built a school for, he said he feared the sponsors and government were waiting for the school to be destroyed before jumping in and assisting.