MQANDULI, Eastern Cape – Parents from Mncwasa Primary School in Mqanduli are asking for intervention from the Department of Education, as their children now depend on one classroom after others were damaged by heavy winds on 10 June 2025, and were again affected by recent bad weather.

Ward committee member of the area, Malunga Nongila (54), said that during the disaster that occurred on 10 June 2025, the roofs of three classrooms were swept away by strong winds, and another two classrooms were recently damaged.

“There are people who come to the school just to take photos and leave. They have come here several times, leaving us with hope that is never fulfilled.

“Now we have seen that other schools are being repaired, but not ours.

“We are left with only one classroom that is still in good condition, while the rest have leaking roofs,” he said.

Chairperson of the Masihlangane Mncwasa Community Forum, Soze Mhlaba (74), said they were appealing to the department to intervene because the school management had been forced to combine classes due to the shortage of classrooms.

“We decided to form this forum because we realised that even though the school management tried to ask for help, nothing was happening.

“This forum will work with the school to ensure that our children receive a better education,” said Mhlaba.

He added that, now, they have not done much because the forum is still new.

According to him, learners at the school are struggling because the toilets they use are not in good condition.

“We asked the construction team that was building toilets in our homesteads to build some for the school, and that is how we managed to get them. Since they are not in good condition, some learners choose to use open spaces.”

Spokesperson for the Department of Education, Mali Mtima, said the schools would be built, and the reason it has taken two years is due to the process of appointing consultants to plan and design the three schools.

He said that, in addition, rigorous planning and concurrence from the Department of Education needed to be done to ensure that proper planning and costing were done.

“The three schools will be refurbished to be in line with DoE norms and standards. Kotyana classrooms will be demolished and rebuilt. Classrooms at KwaNtshunqe and Zwelenqaba will be refurbished and additional classroom blocks added. The budget will come from the Education Infrastructure Grant (EIG).

“Dumrana Senior Secondary School commenced on 22 August 2024 and was completed on 22 January 2025; Zwelenqaba Senior Secondary School commenced on 21 August 2024 and was completed on 23 January 2025; Kotyana Primary School commenced on 21 August 2024 and was completed on 23 January 2025; KwaNtshunqe commenced on 24 June 2024 and was completed on 9 October 2024,” said Mtima.

He added that the expected start dates are subject to client approval, as procurement has been concluded for Kotyana and KwaNtshunqe. Zwelenqaba is with the provincial treasury for adjudication and is expected to be submitted to the client department for concurrence in June.

“For Gwebityala, the contractor is already on site. Establishment is 90% complete, demolition is done, and earthworks have commenced. The site was handed over on 13 April. It is a 24-month contract; the contractor is Hillpet. The school is being constructed from scratch.”

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