Muddying the water: mud schools do exist and one man intends to change that

A KwaZulu-Natal man has walked more than 300km to raise funds to rebuild a mud school in KwaNongoma in northern KZN after the department of education failed to reach an agreement with the community. 

Siyanda Dlamini, 30, has trekked across several provinces since he began his Peace Walk in January, starting conversations with communities on peace and stability. 

But nothing prepared him for a recent cry for help, one involving eMagcekeni Primary School, which risks closure, threatening its 100 pupils and staff. 

“When I started at the beginning of the year I was not walking for schools, I was not doing it for charity. Instead I was just raising awareness on what divides us as people within townships and how we can overcome some of those factors. I came across my first school when I was walking from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape and decided I should include schools in my campaign.” 

On May 18 Dlamini set off from Estcourt to KwaNongoma. He arrived in the area on May 22 and engaged with community members regarding their plight. 

Zipho Buthelezi, whose six grandchildren attend eMagcekeni Primary School, said the government had failed the community. 

“Officials from the department of education came to speak with us and they wanted to close the school, but we as the community refused. The money the department was willing to spend on transport to have the children attend another school [could be used] to rebuild this school.” 

He said the wellbeing of the pupils was paramount as the building was unsafe.

“Two classrooms collapsed when we had heavy rains. Luckily there were no children at school at the time, but you can see how the walls are cracking and the roof is leaking.” 

Buthelezi said the school was built by the community nearly two decades ago and recognised by the department of education, which had been approached on several occasions to rebuild it.

KZN education spokesperson Kwazi Mthethwa said they had engaged with the community regarding relocating the pupils to Donguthule Primary School about 2.5km away, but the community refused. 

“The neighbouring school is fully equipped and has plenty of classrooms that are underutilised. Since they refused we cannot fold our arms and so we instructed our infrastructure team to provide the school with mobile classrooms so learning can continue.” 

Dlamini said he was not trying to undermine the department. Rather, he wanted to do what he could.

He has been documenting his journey on social media and said support from the private sector had been phenomenal. 

“People have come on board and are willing to assist in any way they can. I try not to get involved in the handling of donations and rather let companies do that instead. I don’t want people saying I am stealing their money.” 

Dlamini sought assistance from the owner of Build It hardware store in KwaNongoma, Mavuso Hlongwane, who has opened a bank account for donations to rebuild the school.

“Once there is enough money we will start providing building supplies so we can get the school built,” Mavuso said. 

Meanwhile, DA spokesperson on education in KZN Dr Imran Keeka said mud schools still exist despite MEC Kwazi Mshengu denying this last year at the KZN legislature.

“This year the infrastructure budget will need a further R1.4bn to get anywhere meaningful. Routine maintenance will take a back seat, especially because funds will have to be directed at addressing storm damaged schools going back to 2016, the 189 insurrection damaged schools and the backlog of pit latrines in 982 schools. It is rather irritating to then have to consider a misleading statement such as this, especially where the issue of this school won’t be completely addressed.”