Ladysmith KZN: All schools in the province ready to re-open?

Last week Monday (February 15), the spokesperson for the Department of Education in KZN, Mr Muzi Mahlambi, announced on a local community radio station that all schools in KZN are ready to re-open. He also said that as a department, they have not received any complaints.

But is this the whole truth of the situation?

Last week Thursday (February 18), the Ladysmith Gazette visited a school in the Jonono area of Elandslaagte.

Mashobane Secondary School faces the huge challenge of not having proper infrastructure. The school’s roofing was damaged in a fire in December 2017 and again in 2018 by severe hailstorms. The school also does not have running taps.

In addition, there are not enough classrooms to accommodate all of the 201 students. The teachers have quipped that they are grateful to Covid-19, as the students are now alternating days at school.

Also read: Ladysmith KZN: Shooting claims man’s life in Umhlumayo

“In the first incident of the fire, we did inform the Department of Education and they said we must first find the culprits before they assist us. Regarding the second incident of the hailstorm, the department said they do not have any money to assist us,” said School Governing Body (SGB) deputy chairperson Mr Mofokeng.

As of re-opening on February 15, the teachers at this school do not have toilets. 

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Ladysmith Gazette. with an exclusive interview with KZN Department of Education spokesperson Mr Muzi Mahlambi.

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