MEC Dlamini Promises Improvements at School

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The MEC for Education, Ms. Cathy Dlamini, conducted a school support visit to Hlangalezwe Primary School on 20 May in Bushbuckridge alongside the Executive Mayor of Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, Lydia Moroane. The visit aimed to assess the school's condition and performance, and to engage with educators, learners, and community stakeholders.

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Ms. Dlamini announced that an assessment of the school's infrastructure would be conducted this week. She emphasized that despite the school’s fencing not being included in the current year’s budget, it would be prioritized and addressed. "We want our children to have enough space and a comfortable school to learn in," she stated, pledging that the necessary repairs and improvements would be made.

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The MEC expressed concern over the poor academic performance within the Bohlabelo Circuit, noting that its results had dropped below 80%. More than four schools in the circuit are underperforming. Addressing the issue directly, she urged the acting circuit manager, Ms. Irene Chawane, to strengthen collaboration between circuit officials and school staff. “We need to pull up our socks and work together with teachers,” Dlamini said. “Bushbuckridge serves the province, so we must give them the best.”

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She further stressed the importance of motivating and supporting teachers, urging them to go the extra mile to improve educational outcomes in the region. “My wish is for these learners to get the best education—just like any other learner in the country,” she said. She also highlighted the need to expose learners to digital technology and modern learning tools from an early age, stating that “learners must be introduced to gadgets to learn new things early in life.”

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In her heartfelt message to the school community, the MEC offered a sincere apology to the principal, learners, parents, and local leadership for the challenges they’ve endured due to the school’s poor infrastructure. “We owe you an apology for letting you work under such conditions. But we respect and thank you for your resilience—you never gave up on the learners or the school,” she said.

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Ms. Dlamini assured the community, including local chiefs and stakeholders, that tangible improvements would be made. “We will make sure that the school is fixed,” she concluded, affirming her commitment to creating an environment where every child in Bushbuckridge can access quality education in a safe, well-equipped space.

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The visit signals a renewed focus on accountability, infrastructure development, and academic improvement in the region. It also reflects the Department of Education’s acknowledgment of community concerns and its commitment to resolving them through collaboration, investment, and oversight.

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