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Learners at Mzinti Primary School are attending classes in buildings described as structurally unsafe, raising serious concerns about child safety and the state of school infrastructure in rural areas.
The condition of the school was highlighted during an oversight visit by the Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education on Friday, 13 February 2026. The school, established in 1942, has ageing blocks, including one built by community members. It has 18 classrooms, with one converted into a staff room — but several structures are now reportedly unfit to safely accommodate learners and educators.
According to a press statement issued by MPL Thoko Mashiane on 17 February 2026, teaching continues under the fear that ceilings or walls could collapse, especially during windy and rainy conditions. The School Governing Body (SGB) has attempted minor repairs using limited departmental maintenance funds, but the school’s condition remains a risk.
While the circuit manager facilitated the installation of six mobile classrooms in November 2024 to ease overcrowding, the statement argues this has not addressed the underlying crisis.
The situation worsened after January 2026 storms tore rooftops off four additional classrooms. Although the storm did not occur during school hours, the incident has intensified concerns about what could happen if severe weather strikes while learners are in class. Parts of the school are now said to be too unsafe for teaching and learning.
Beyond the infrastructure decay, the school is reported to be battling overcrowding, a lack of ICT resources, crime including theft and burglary, insufficient parental support, and shortages of learning and teaching support materials such as desks and chairs.
The SGB has formally appealed to the Mpumalanga Department of Education to demolish unsafe structures and replace them with permanent, modern classrooms that are safe, dignified and suitable for learning. Calls have also been made for urgent assessments, decommissioning of dangerous buildings, long-term planning to end overcrowding, and prioritisation of rural schools in infrastructure budgets.
The matter has renewed debate about whether temporary solutions are enough when learners’ lives may be at risk.
