ActionSA Calls for Urgent Intervention to Protect Learners in Manyeveni Skombantwana
Gugu Thwala
ActionSA Mpumalanga Women’s Forum Chairperson
ActionSA is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of learners from Manyeveni Skombantwana in the City of Mbombela, who are forced to walk more than five kilometres each day to attend the nearest primary school.
Learners from Grade R to Grade 7 must travel through dangerous bush to reach school, placing their lives at serious risk. The situation has become even more alarming following reports that a man was attacked by a lion in a nearby village last week. Residents have also raised concerns about hyenas roaming the area, further endangering the safety of young learners.
It is unacceptable that children are exposed to such dangerous conditions simply to access their constitutional right to education. No child should have to risk their life in pursuit of an education.
ActionSA therefore calls on the Mpumalanga Department of Education to urgently prioritise the construction of a new primary school in Manyeveni Skombantwana by including the project in its infrastructure planning and budget.
In the interim, we urge the Department to implement immediate measures, including the provision of scholar transport or other safe and reliable transport arrangements, to ensure that learners can travel to and from school safely while a permanent solution is being pursued.
The safety, dignity, and future of our children must be prioritised. Government cannot afford to wait for a tragedy before taking decisive action.
ActionSA Calls for Urgent Intervention to Protect Learners in Manyeveni Skombantwana
ActionSA is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of learners from Manyeveni Skombantwana in the City of Mbombela, who are forced to walk more than five kilometres each day to attend the nearest primary school.
Learners from Grade R to Grade 7 must travel through dangerous bush to reach school, placing their lives at serious risk. The situation has become even more alarming following reports that a man was attacked by a lion in a nearby village last week. Residents have also raised concerns about hyenas roaming the area, further endangering the safety of young learners.
It is unacceptable that children are exposed to such dangerous conditions simply to access their constitutional right to education. No child should have to risk their life in pursuit of an education.
ActionSA therefore calls on the Mpumalanga Department of Education to urgently prioritise the construction of a new primary school in Manyeveni Skombantwana by including the project in its infrastructure planning and budget.
In the interim, we urge the Department to implement immediate measures, including the provision of scholar transport or other safe and reliable transport arrangements, to ensure that learners can travel to and from school safely while a permanent solution is being pursued.
The safety, dignity, and future of our children must be prioritised. Government cannot afford to wait for a tragedy before taking decisive action.