HUMANSDORP – A recent community march against ongoing vandalism at Mzingisi Primary School in KwaNomzamo, Humansdorp, has reinforced efforts to protect the school and restore a safe learning environment.
The initiative, led by the school in partnership with a non-profit organisation, Ubuhlanti Community Development Centre, follows a series of break-ins that have left the school damaged and stripped of essential resources.
Retired social worker and former learner of Mzingisi Primary, Dr Nontsikelelo Majola, said that the march began at the school before proceeding to the Humansdorp Police Station, where a memorandum outlining grievances and requests was handed over to the Station Commander.
Majola founded Ubuhlanti Community Development Centre in October 2024, after noticing various negative elements in her community when she moved back to Humansdorp.
The organisation was officially registered in January 2025, and she now serves as its secretary, focusing on fighting vandalism and gangsterism in the community.
The march, which took place on 20 March, builds on earlier interventions by the organisation and community members, including a clean-up campaign aimed at improving safety and restoring dignity to the school environment.
Majola said the continued incidents of vandalism remain a serious concern for the community.
“The handover of the memorandum follows a spate of incidents where the school was broken into, which led to the environment being unsafe for both learners and educators. Moreover, school resources that were meant to facilitate and support quality teaching and learning were being destroyed,” said Majola.
She previously indicated that the school has been broken into multiple times, and various items have been stolen, such as garden tools, equipment, a lawn mower and food from their feeding scheme.
The ceiling has been damaged, copper has been stolen, and the windows are broken.
“The main aim of the march was to highlight the importance of protecting the right to education and ensuring a safe school environment for both learners and educators,” said Majola.
She further said that local stakeholders also joined the initiative in a show of support, calling for collective action to address vandalism affecting schools and other community institutions.
Police spokesperson, Captain Majola Nkohli, confirmed that a memorandum was handed over to the Humansdorp Police Station on 20 March.
He further said that the SAPS has put in place programmes throughout schools in Humansdorp to assist with issues related to crime.
The programmes form part of the Safe Schools Protocol. Regarding vandalism at the school, Nkohli said that the situation was not as dire as it was being portrayed.
“There has only been one incident reported this year of theft where gas pipes were stolen. This incident is being investigated,” said Nkohli.
He further dismissed allegations of gangsterism within the school.
Nkohli said that the other issues mentioned in the memorandum were unfounded.
