Pieter’s life revolves around his school, Thanduxolo Special School, and he would do anything to be at school. This includes walking close to 16km to reach school in the event that a bus for whatever reason left him behind.
His schoolmates are also severely challenged in one way or another, and all will depend on the skills acquired from this brand new school for survival.
The skills offered at this special school include self care; socialisation; perceptual motor development; functional scholastic; work skills and job preparation programmes such as woodwork, painting, renovations, needle work, cane work knitting laundry, domestic work, mesh wire making and beadwork.
Thanduxolo Special School is one of 18 special schools in Mpumalanga, its new building consists of 10 classrooms, four workshops, administration block, two garages and sport grounds.
The construction of this new school stated in February 2013 and was completed at the end of July 2013 to ensure that Pieter and his mates can take pride of the new environment that helps to instil a sense of belonging and true citizenry.
Pieter’s classmates are from KwaGuqa, Mhluzi, Ogies (Phola), Klarinet and the surrounding mine villages within Emalahleni Municipality.
The construction was allocated R39-million to ensure that those who are like Pieter benefit from the country’s schooling system and the right to education as prescribed by the constitution of the country.
The MEC for Education, Mrs Reginah Mhaule, her counterpart, MEC for Public Works Roads and Transport, Ms Dikeledi Mahlangu and the Executive Mayor of Emalahleni Municipality officially handed over the school on Tuesday, March 18 and met Pieter on the occasion.
*Pieter van der Merwe – not his real name.
