The battle for housing took a new twist when hostel dwellers paid R500 for a home — and destroyed a school in the process, reports Annie Mapoma
AN education success story for 300 Mzimhlophe Hostel children is turning into a struggle for survival as hostel inmates this week destroyed classroom facilities and Guateng education authorities refuse to support the school.
The Zamokuhle Primary School was set up by the Inkatha Freedom Party in an empty wing of the hostel in 1992, when the IFP believed it unsafe for hostel dwellers to send their children to township schools.
A volunteer teacher, Nonhlanhla Masondo, said the school had been running smoothly, with classes from pre-school to Standard Five, even though it was not registered or recognised by education authorities.
But at 3am on Tuesday, hostel dwellers were awakened by the noise created by about 10 men forcing their way into the school wing and vandalising the classrooms.
Masondo said the intruders told her they had paid R500 each to alleged hostel committee members in return for permission to occupy the place. She said she did not know these committee members.
Reports that the men were hostel dwellers who wanted the classrooms to be converted into family units could not be confirmed.
One of the new occupants, Mussa Shange, had already started to set up house when the Weekly Mail & Guardian arrived at the hostel.
He said the place had been allocated to him by a certain Dumisane Ngema. Shange had not yet paid Ngema as they were to finalise matters that afternoon.
Masondo, furious at the “committee members'” lack of consideration, said the teachers were surprised that the community had decided to close the school without consulting them.
“We will fight to keep it going. We have managed before, and still can.”
Parents, she said, were not prepared to send their children to the township schools because they feared for their safety. “The children won’t be educated, and that’s sad.”
Gauteng Education Minister spokesperson Robinson Ramaite said the department knew of the existence of the school and felt it should be closed. “There are places available at township schools. There is no reason for them to stay away because there is no more violence.”
However, David Mabalane, Diepmeadow acting town clerk, said the school would reopen as soon as its walls and windows were repaired. The Diepmeadow Housing Department has asked the Meadowlands police to patrol the hostels.
Diepmeadow housing director Jooste Mutapho is to meet indunas and hostel residents this week to resolve the problems. Ngema could not be reached for comment.