Turning schools into centres of hope

The Mpumalanga Department of Education (DoE) launched the 2026 Rhandza Xikolo Xa Wena campaign at Mahhushe Agricultural Secondary School on Tuesday, May 12, reaffirming its commitment to protecting and transforming schools into centres of hope and community pride.

The MEC for education, Lindi Masina, said the campaign renews the collective responsibility of communities to serve as the first line of defence in protecting schools, promoting safe and drug-free learning environments, restoring learners’ dignity, improving infrastructure, and advancing food sustainability through school gardens.

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She said the launch forms part of a collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs and its MEC, Khethiwe Moeketsi, to strengthen sustainability, skills development and community upliftment.

Masina and Moeketsi conducted a walkabout at the school, assisted in planting indigenous trees, and visited learners who showcased their agricultural knowledge and practical training in caring for cows, chickens and pigs, as well as crop production initiatives on the premises.

The Rhandza Xikolo Xa Wena campaign will soon expand to the Nkangala, Gert Sibande, and Bohlabela education districts, ensuring that schools across Mpumalanga benefit from the initiative, which aims to encourage learners, parents and communities to love, protect and care for their local schools.
Teachers, school governing bodies, learners, businesses, and civil society were commended for their dedication to building schools that inspire excellence and create opportunities for future generations.

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Community members were encouraged to embrace the campaign as a way of life and ensure that every school becomes a beacon of empowerment and development.