TERMITES are ruling and terribly ruining Makgahlishe Primary School in Buffelshoek outside Acornhoek near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.
The situation has forced about 500 kids from grades R - 7 to evacuate the collapsing classrooms by moving in and squeezing into nine of the 19 available classrooms, causing overcrowding.
The admin block for 23 teachers and the principal is also ruined, with its roof badly leaking during rainy days.
Angry community leaders, Mphaka Seerane, Samuel Moriri and Petrus Seoke, said the school was built by the poor community in the early 80s. But the situation is drastically worsened by termites destructing the entire structure.
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"We have long been engaging with the Mpumalanga Department of Education before the roof and walls could crush on our kids, as the structure is sinking down from destructive termites.
"They built mounds almost everywhere in the school. The roof is partly damaged by the drastic storms some years ago. But the government is making empty promises every time," said Seoke.
Samuel said the kids and teachers suffered a double blow as the school taps are all dry, with no single drop of water for years.
"They have to lock up the flushing toilets as there's no water. We also reported the matter, but nothing happened. The kids must relieve themselves in the bushes or else they had to use rainwater. Even the small kitchen is not suitable and doesn't meet health standard," he said.
Mpumalanga education spokesman Jasper Zwane said: "The department is aware of this matter. The project is currently in the planning and design phase. As an interim relief, the department will supply the school with 11 mobile classrooms and delivery is expected soon."
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