“Every class starts in chaos. The learners run into class pushing and shoving each other to find whole desks, while others rush to find pieces of desks. By the time class starts some are left holding only the frame of a table and others try and balance desktops on their laps."
Pumzile Nkasana
Thambekile department head
Thambekile Senior
Secondary School
It was a momentous day on 16 February 2001 in the sleepy village of Hala Two when Nelson Mandela and former BMW AG chairman Dr Professor Joachim Milberg ceremoniously opened a much-needed new school.
And at a glance, some 13 years later, Thambekile Senior Secondary School still looks good. But a closer look inside the village school just 18km away from Lady Frere, tells a different story.
 This plaque in the entrance hall of Thambekile Senior Secondary School commemorates the day former president Nelson Mandela officially opened the school, sponsored by BMW. |  Thambekile's head of department Pumzile Nkasana said they are very proud to be part of former president Nelson Mandela's legacy of education. |
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 Thambekile Senior Secondary School001.JPGLearners at Thambekile were waiting for the nod from teachers allowing them to go home. In recent months teachers have threatened to send learners home early as there is no running water at the school, and they are reliant on water tanks. |  Thambekile Senior Secondary School018.JPGBroken windows cause uncomfortable learning conditions, as wind and rain occurs regularly in the village of Hala Two, near Mount Frere. |
 Thambekile Senior Secondary School053.JPGBroken desks are one of the main challenges facing the learners at Thambekile. Teachers complain that learners fight over desks, and uncomfortable learning conditions have had a drastic impact on their matric pass rate. |  Thambekile Senior Secondary School035.JPGThambekile head of department Pumzile Nkasana demonstrates how learners use parts of desks while in class. Learners often fight over desks, and seldom have complete desks to work on. |
 Thambekile Senior Secondary School023.JPGThe classes at Thambekile are very sparsely furnished, and much of the little furnisher they have is broken. |
“There is no water here. At times, it would stop running and now we are sitting completely without water,” said department head Phumzile Nkasana, who added that water supply was not a problem when the luxury car company spent R5-million on the school and a nearby clinic.
“Some time ago the water that came from our bathrooms and kitchens at the school was dirty,” said Nkasana.
The only water is from tanks and for that the school relies unreliable rain fall. The tanks are full for now, but Nkasana is concerned about what will happen when they run out.
“If there is no water we will have to start sending learners home and we cannot afford to lose any school time.”
Apart from the water crisis, some broken windows and damaged doors, there is a critical shortage of desks and chairs that forced the pupils to sit on the floor while trying to write.
“Every class starts in chaos. The learners run into class pushing and shoving each other to find whole desks, while others rush to find pieces of desks. By the time class starts some are left holding only the frame of a table and others try and balance desktops on their laps. Others just go and sit on the floor and work there,” he said, demonstrating how learners balance the desk planks on their knees.
The shortage of desks and water has had a grave impact on the school’s matric results, with figures dropping from 80% and higher to below 60%.
“We are struggling, but doing our best. At this point we are still coping, but I do not know how much longer we will be able to hold out under these conditions.” - Mkhululi Ndamase and Riaan Marais