While the third term is in full swing, the situation is still tough at Mgomanzi Senior Secondary School in Butterworth, since learners do not have classrooms. Their school was burnt to ashes, by an unknown person, in April this year.
The traditional leader of the area, Tozama Silinga confirmed that the situation is very bad because the children are sitting outside, in an open space and under trees.
“As the chief of this area, I am trying by all means to solve the problem that is facing my community, but it is hard because I do not know what led to this. I am also confused about what is happening here because I don’t understand why the school was burnt in the first place,” said Silinga. He said they were still trying to host meetings in order to come up with a solution.
The chairperson of the school governing body (SGB), Rose Mngeni, said they tried to collect some money from parents so they could buy roofing but that did not happen. She said they also tried to talk to one of the neighbouring schools to accommodate their children, but the school refused, stating that their school could also be torched.
“This is very painful. Seeing our children sitting outside totally breaks my heart,” said Mngeni. She said they needed help so that the situation could return to normal.
Eastern Cape Department of Education spokesperson, Malibongwe Mtima, confirmed that this was the fifth time that the school had been gutted. He said the first time was in 2013, when the administration block was destroyed.
“Two attempts were made to torch the resource centre, but the fire could not destroy the building in 2021.
“In August 2015, classrooms were completely destroyed in a fire,” said Mtima.
He added that the school had 253 learners from Grades 8 to 12. “We will wait [to intervene] until the community solves their issues,” said Mtima.
