This comes after the SAHRC hosted a provincial hearing into the status of schools with special needs learners, at Hotel@Tzaneen recently.

Most of these schools felt abandoned by the department of education’s lack of communication or responding to the schools’ requests.

Some of their frustrations included, not having enough educators, no social workers or occupational therapists, lack of training of educators and schools left to pay volunteers from their own pockets.

Letaba Special School said that the department takes its time to replace retired or deceased employees.

As a result it leaves a gap in the functioning of the school.

“In our hostels we have three house mothers who have to serve 175 learners, meaning that one house mother is responsible for over 50 learners.

“These learners have to be bathed, fed and administered medication before the learners head to class,” Jonas Mathebula said at the hearing.

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Sedibeng Special School left the room discouraged after they testified that they were left to settle a R500 000 electricity bill on their own after the department promised to pay half of the bill but failed to do so.

Sphumelele Special School also shocked the commission when they said the school has four shacks as classrooms and one mobile toilet which 80 learners and teachers use.

On the second day of the hearing, Dr Ike Thema from the office of the premier and Onica Dederen, acting HOD of the department of education, gave testimony.

Both parties acknowleged their shortcomings and committed to a better working relationship with schools.

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The department promised that they will provide four mobile classes before 13 December and will appoint more educators at Sphumelele School.

SAHRC provincial office manager, Victor Mavhidula told the Herald that he is displeased by the two institutions, because they waited for the commission to intervene before they took action.

“How many schools are being ignored. Not all of them have access to the SAHRC to intervene on their behalf.

“We can’t have a municipality cutting electricity of a school which has learners living with disability.

“We however encourage people to pay their bills, but it is not right for learners to not attend class because of no electricity,” Mavhidula said.

The commission will draft a report. Parties wil then have the right to comment on it. Thereafter the SAHRC will issue a report with recommendations.