Contractors at work fixing the laundry basins. Picture supplied.
Bathing and brushing teeth in overwhelming stench where urine flows on the floor will soon be a thing of the past for deaf and blind pupils of Setotolwane ELSEN Secondary School in Mankweng, Limpopo.
This is because an appointed contractor by the Limpopo Department of Education is working tirelessly to restore the eroded dignity of the 259 deaf and blind pupils who have been living in hazardous dormitories with no running water and studying in old makeshift classrooms for several years.
A month investigation into the school by the Diary Series of Deaf People exposed they have been living in squalor and degradation at a derelict temporary school with almost no water, collapsing mobile classrooms with holes in the floors and ceilings, exposed electrical wires, broken toilets and missing taps.
The team commenced its investigation into the plight of the pupils and staff on November 9. Pupils shared how they had to fetch water for drinking, bathing and flushing with buckets from a pipe at a nearby cemetery in the past. Some explained that they had seen totally blind girls forced to wipe excrement on walls due to toilets clogging when there was no water.
Five days following the team’s visit to the Department of Education on November 20, spokesperson Mosebjane Kgaffe said, a contractor has been appointed for renovation and started work (November 25). Kgaffe said, “The contract amount is R450,000. The completion is scheduled for the end of January.”
On Friday, the School Governing Body (SGB) chairperson Ramaesala Hlaka said the contractor is drilling a borehole and renovating “the bathrooms and laundry rooms. They fitted new taps, basins and toilet seats in the girls and boys toilets, and tiles in the hostels. But there is still a lot to be done.”
Plastic basins of deaf and blind pupils next to the laundry basins before the renovations started. Picture by Ntokozo Abraham.
Renovated laundry basins. Picture supplied.
Classroom ceilings had been fixed and new handles put on doors. Although renovation is far from completion, Hlaka said there is now running water:
“We struggled for too long. I am happy that I can see something changing. I am here now at the school, and there is now water in the taps. I am so happy. You have helped us, since you came, you followed the right channels. Even before you published the story, the department started pulling up their socks and started taking Setotolwane seriously. Today I am very happy.”
The SGB said while the contractors are in the process of drilling a borehole, they have connected the water but it is unclear what was the source of the problem that led the school not having access to water. Sadly, the 2024 blind and Deaf matriculants will not be able to enjoy these decent benefits.
On the other hand, the SGB said the contractor took water samples from the 5,000 litre tanks for testing as pupils had complained that they suffered from stomach aches due to drinking contaminated water from the water tanks.
Contractors drilling a borehole. Picture supplied.
The SGB they still want to relocate to a new safe building for the kids and teachers because the makeshift classrooms are unsustainable.
Kgaffe said:
“A new site in town has been identified and the project has been handed over to the provincial Department of Public Works and work has started: to plan for the building of a new school in Polokwane town."
Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education in parliament in response to the team of journalists’ investigation and a media enquiry sent on November 29, chairperson Joy Maimela said, it condemns the hazardous living and learning conditions of the blind and deaf pupils as it “is an insult to all special needs learners."
She said:
“We want to state it unambiguously that special schools cannot be allowed to function in that manner. It is very concerning that learners with special educational needs are expected to live and learn in these conditions. First and foremost, we want to condemn this with the contempt it deserves.”
Maimela indicated that the Committee plans to contact the Limpopo Department of Education to elaborate on the circumstances and worsening conditions described in the article.
The SGB said the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) visited the school on Monday after the publishing of the article. SAHRC’s Limpopo manager, Victor Mavhidula confirmed the visit and indicated they will return when schools reopen. Mavhidula mentioned that a decision would be made at that time on whether to open an official enquiry.
The Setotolwane ELSEN Secondary School reporting project is supported by the Henry Nxumalo Foundation.
