MIDDELPLAAS – The fear of drowning while using the old and stinking pit latrines for hundreds of learners of Mpumelelo Primary School in a remote area of Nkomazi Local Municipality is now history, thanks to the generosity of Inkosi Musa Khumalo known as Mthayiza 11 of Mpatha.
The school is one of the oldest in the province. It was built in 1969 and most of its facilities are on the brink of falling apart.
Mthayiza Farming in partnership with a locally based businessman, Dr Sam Shokane of Samsokolo Enterprise, who is also the patron of Khulangwane Circuit recently handed over the R165 000 ablution facility with 10 flushing toilets and two JoJo tanks. The event also saw a couple of traditional authorities including the Shongwe Tribal Authority and the Ngomanes with representatives of Mthayiza Estate.
Speaking during the event Shokane thanked Khumalo for the toilets and urged parents to make sure that their children carry toilet paper each time they went to school as newspaper and maize stalks would not be used in a flushing toilet.
“You all know that this is a non-fee paying school, so the school will not be able to buy toilet paper for all the learners. From the child grants you receive from government for the kids just remove the hairdo or the pedicure and buy toilet paper for them,” said Shokane. He also urged parents to teach their children to respect elders at home. He also strongly opposed government’s proposal of giving out condoms to schools. “School-governing board (SGB) members must stand up and stop this. Schools are here to educate kids, not adults,” he said.
Shokane also spoke on the powers of a united SGB in making schools a better place for learners and teachers. “As the SGB you are the political wing of government in schools, you can do mighty things, make appointments and go to present your plights to the MEC of education or even the premier of the province,” he added.
Mthayiza said they were proud of investing in the future of learners, hence they agreed to lend a helping hand after receiving a request from one of the former learners of the school for help. He urged parents to seriously invest in the education of their kids as it was the only weapon to fight against poverty, unemployment and inequality. He also spoke on the historic relations between the Shongwe and Khumalo clans, inviting them to be united as one. Mthayiza also urged attendees to work hard if they wanted to succeed in life.
