The dreams of the community of Nkumbanyuswa at Ndwedwe to have a primary school in their area so that their children would not have to walk long distances to school, has at last become a reality.
KZN Education MEC Ina Cronje was there early this week to officially open the Sigedleni Primary School.
Built on land donated by a member of the community in 1991 and with money loaned by a local businessman, project organisers said the school only exists because of the community’s spirit of “ubuntu”.
And although both men have since died, hundreds of children are now reaping the fruits of their kindness.
“This school definitely belongs to the community. We have been through hell and high water. Every year the school would be damaged by bad weather. We have had children from the outside coming in to steal from the property.
“But through it all, the community stood together and confronted those issues,” said Thokozile Ngcobo, who spent seven years as the president of the school’s governing body.
The Education Department has since come on board by renovating the school and refunding R28 000 of the R35 000 debt owed to the businessman. For the rest, the community took the initiative of raising the money and have also been able to build a pre-school and a block of offices, along with flushing toilets.
“We really are blessed with a good community that is proud of where they come from and what they have done. That was evident leading to this official opening,” said school principal, Bhekumuzi Mngadi.
sphumem@witness.co.za
