Mpumalanga’s provincial government has officially handed over the long-awaited R625-million Mkhondo Combined Boarding School, ending years of delays, budget escalations and political criticism.
Situated in eZimbidleni village, the facility was built to assist children living on farms in and around the Mkhondo area, formerly named after Voortrekker leader Piet Retief.
Its completion follows several missed deadlines.
Boasting 32 classrooms, a cutting-edge library, a computer centre and a science laboratory, the school also features a multi-purpose hall, dining area and kitchen to give pupils a homely environment in a previously marginalised region.
The project had been under fire from opposition parties who accused the provincial government of turning it into a dream deferred after repeated postponements due to incomplete work.
Provincial cabinet spokesperson Thulasizwe Thomo, whose public works department constructed the school on behalf of the education department, expressed relief at finally delivering the facility.
“The initial budget that we had budgeted for the school was around R225 million, but I must indicate that it escalated to R625 million,” said Thomo.
He attributed the increase to the impact of Covid-19 and rising manufacturing prices over the years.
Thomo defended the cost, saying the school would save the province millions by reducing government-funded scholar transport.
More schools, particularly mud schools across the broader Mkhondo Local Municipality, will be demolished, with their pupils moved to the boarding facility.
“We are very happy. We have built one of the state-of-the-art schools in Africa, not just in South Africa. It’s a smart school,” said Thomo, adding that high school pupils will be accommodated from next year.
The school has a capacity for 1 250 pupils but currently hosts 525 pupils from grades R to 7.
Premier Mandla Ndlovu said the facility forms part of the ANC-led government’s long-term programme since 1994 to replace farm schools with modern boarding schools.
“We have already built six boarding schools. Today, we are handing over the seventh, which is the last boarding school.
“When we started in 2018, we had no designs at that time. We only had R200 million as an allocation. Now we’ve spent R625 million, and we are happy to see value for money,” said Ndlovu.
He said Mkhondo Boarding School is a no-fee institution where resident pupils receive free uniforms, study materials and four meals a day.
“The children here receive four meals a day, something that doesn’t happen at home. They get everything they need free of charge.
“The best way for these children to thank us is to work well with their teachers and produce good results,” said Ndlovu.
He added that 10 farm schools had already been demolished.
“The issue with farm schools in the main is that one teacher will be teaching for six hours without a break every day. You get tired.
“We are happy that our teachers are ready to give lessons to our children. They’ve already arrived,” said Ndlovu.
