This was the situation of learners and teachers crossing the river while there was no bridge.
by Khaya Magenu 05 February 2010
Fever Publications has helped to resolve the problems of Tyongwana Senior Primary School between Lusikisiki and Port St Johns in Nyazi rural village, which has been facing death on a regular basis.
HARDLY a year after the Fever published a sad story about several learners and teachers who were forced to risk their lives by crossing through a deep river while going to school, the South African National Defence Force and Port St Johns Local Municipality have built a bridge.
The school is among the most impoverished in the country with the kids not knowing school furniture. They use bricks as chairs or desks and are forced to write exams on their knees. The footpath that leads to the school runs through a forest, raising the fears of pupils and parents that they may be the victims of rape. Since the school was initiated in 1970, the government has never delivered furniture and even the teachers are using bricks as their desks and chairs. The school has never had even a portable toilet, compelling teachers and students to relieve themselves in open spaces.
They only have three mud huts as classrooms, built by the community long ago and the teachers have no staff-room nor does the principal have an office. The three classrooms have broken windows and doors and educates pupils from Grade R up to Grade 7. They do not have tapped water, nor electricity. Before the advent of the new bridge, teachers and learners did not attend school when it rained heavily, as there was no bridge. Sometimes, the teachers and pupils were forced to hitch their dresses up or remove their trousers and take off their socks and shoes.
School principal, Mzukelwa Nochanga, told Fever that he was over the moon. “Thanks to Port St Johns Local Municipal Mayor, William Mtakathi for his efforts in assisting us and also thanks to Fever Publications for publishing the story,” said the principal.
He said that before the construction of the bridge, children, some of whom attend classes often, arrived tired and unable to concentrate and sat in class shivering and didn’t study well, worried about how they are going to get home. The principal said he assumed his duties in 1997 and has never seen the government delivering furniture and was even told by the principal before him that they were battling to get desk and chairs.
“It was a disgrace to our profession as teachers to pull our dresses up in front of males when crossing the river,” said the principal.
More than 290 children from Tyongwana Senior Primary School, between Lusikisiki and Port St Johns in Nyazi rural village, face death on a regular basis as they are forced to risk their lives by crossing through a deep river, while going to school.
THE high number of members of the community denying the stigma of HIV/Aids and murders, allegedly related to witchcraft, has resulted in the Department of Education, South African Police Services and Health conducting an awareness project in Nyazi Rural village between Lusikisiki and Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape, last Tuesday.
IT SEEMS that Fever Publications is playing an important role in social activities. Last month, this paper published a story that a family of 17, including children, asked any Messiah to help them to escape severe malnutrition and poverty at their home in the Cabekwana rural village outside Lusikisiki town.
A dark cloud of armed robberies appears to be hanging over Lusikisiki and Port St Johns, sending shock waves through the communities. Almost every day, last week, thugs targeted rural Pakistani shops with the motive of robbery, resulting in some Pakistani shop owners having sleepless nights, each fearing that they might be the next victim.
.jpg)
