Learners left stranded on first day of school
We are fed up of the mine's empty promises, they must deliver us mobile classes before January 20, or stop mining in our area.
PRAKTISEER – When millions of pupils prepared for the first academic day of 2014, learners from Segorong Section were seen gallivanting the streets and playing hide and seek games. All because they don’t know where to register for their studies.
More than 400 families moved from the old Segorong Village next to Penge to Praktiseer in making way for Rhino mineral’s Annesley Mine back in 2012.
According to the agreement reached by the mine and the community, it promised to build houses, schools and churches that were found at the old Segorong Village. It is rumoured that an estimated amount of R2,7 million was budgeted for the schools, churches and recreational facilities in the area.
To this day, no school has been built in the area and learners are forced to travel a distance of 28 kilometres with buses to attend their classes at the old Segorong Village.
“We are fed up of the mine’s empty promises, they must deliver mobile classes before Monday January 20 or stop mining in our area. We don’t mind going back to our roots and staying at the old Segorong. We cannot allow our children to travel such long distances daily,”said Mr Victor Maphanga member of the community.
The community members says the conditions at the old Segorong schools are not conducive for proper learning.
“There is no water at the schools, and the area is a haven for dangerous snakes. Our children are not safe at all. We have situations were the learners arrive late due to mechanical problems,” one community member added.
The parents are adamant that they won’t be taking their learners back to the village. Coordinator of the independent committee Mr Zeb Mabilu threatened that if the mine does not deliver the classes, they will stop them from mining in the area.
Spokesperson for Limpopo education department, Mr Phuti Seloba lambasted the community and insisted the learners attend nearby schools (Batubatse primary and Leolo secondary).
“There were 260 learners who were attending at Segorong primary, and 171 were schooling at Madikolosha Malepe secondary, the learner ratio at the two schools is too low. We have decided to merge Segorong primary with Batubatse and Madikolosha Malepe with Leolo secondary. This is done to improve the quality of education.
“The parents don’t want their learners to study; if they still want to attend at the old schools, we will arrange transport for them,” he said.
Xolisa Mvinjelwa, spokesman for Rhino minerals and Talane Moyaga, the facilitator who promised to build schools for the Segorong community were not available for comments as their phones’s rang unanswered. Steelburger/Lydenburg News sent them emails, of which they never responded.
