One of the province’s distinguished education institutions, the Elijah Mango College of Higher Education, is losing face due to neglect and vandalism.

“If there was a plan to re-establish the college, then it would not be vandalised.” These were the words of many concerned community members who witnessed the vandalism and regular looting taking place at the college.

Over the previous week, social media users posted photos and videos of looting, water pipes and power cables that had been dug out of the ground and removed, roofing and window frames that had been detached, and a dilapidated fence. The college has lost its water and electricity supplies, and overgrown bushes are encroaching upon the college premises.

“We are really disheartened to see this college being vandalised and people constantly looting its infrastructure. It does not serve its purpose anymore, so why not use it for something similar, such as a further educational training centre? Our young people need skills development and training, and here is a college that has been left to rot right on our doorstep. It has also become a hub for crime, such as hijacked cars being stored there before they are stripped, and young people going there to use illegal substances,” said a concerned resident, Shando Magagula.

In March last year, the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (Dardlea), announced it was planning on refurbishing the college, inviting all other departments into the plans. This department had occupied a portion of the college as a farming training centre.

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However, a month after, Magagula said the community rallied to hand over a memorandum to Dardlea, detailing their concerns over the college. “Dardlea said it would forward the memorandum to the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport [DPWRT],” Magagula said.

Last Thursday, January 23, the KaBokweni Community Movement called for an urgent community meeting at the college to discuss ways to engage with the government to have the college revived.

This movement, established in 2024, comprises community members who wish to bring about a positive change in KaBokweni.

One of its founding members, Joshua Malope, said: “We are treating this as an urgent matter. With assistance from the local police to safeguard this institution, we believe it still has the potential to be the predominant hub of learning and training. It could even be an extension of the University of Mpumalanga or the Ehlanzeni TVET College. During the meeting, we made a call to our fellow locals to stop the vandalism and requested those who have looted to return the items, because if we decide to invade houses with the police, we know we will find those items.”

Malope said they have now escalated the matter to the DPWRT.

“However, we are disappointed by the government for neglecting this institution for such a long time now. We are calling on the DPWRT to immediately reinstall the security personnel and give us a viable solution to the matter. In the meantime, what we can do is to encourage people to safeguard the premises,” Malope said.

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This publication sent queries about the infrastructure issues at Elijah Mango and the constant looting to the spokesperson for Dardlea, Zanele Shabangu, and the on for the DPWRT, Bongani Dhlamini, both of whom acknowledged receipt of them. No response has been received.