In a quest to “fix” the image of Vukuhambe Special Needs School in Mdantsane, which has been marred by allegations of neglect, abuse and lack of security, the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor) on Wednesday handed over much-needed bedding and kitchen supplies.
The school caters for nearly 150 physically disabled pupils, of whom about 90 live in the hostel. The goods handed over included 57 mattresses, 81 pillows, cutlery sets and industrial cleaning machinery.
Grade 12 pupil Asisipho Peter, who is wheelchair-bound, brought tears to many eyes when he said the donated items meant the pupils would no longer feel like “prisoners” at the hostel.
“We will no longer lay our heads on our fists to elevate our heads when sleeping and eat off metal plates as if we are prisoners,” said Asisipho.
“This place will finally feel like home after this.”
In recent years, the Dispatch has reported extensively on allegations of abuse, neglect and starvation made by the pupils at the school. In one instance, two pupils were taken away in a police van for allegedly stealing food from the kitchen hostel, after they claimed to have not eaten the whole day.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Armscor spokesperson Mondé Süssmann said after reading media reports, they decided to visit the school.
“We came here and saw how bad it was. We started fixing some of the existing appliances, such as the washing machines,” said Süssmann.
After lengthy interactions with Eastern Cape Disability Economic Empowerment Trust (ECDEET), which has been steadfast on fixing the school, Süssmann said they decided to make the school one of their corporate social investment projects.
“The handover today is just one of many good things to come,” Süssmann said.
ECDEET CEO Thabiso Phethuka said: “We will fix what needs to be fixed [at Vukuhambe] and move on to other special needs schools in the province.”
Vukuhambe is not the only Eastern Cape special needs school which has faced challenges.
At St Thomas School for the Blind in King William’s Town, pupils missed out on 20 days of school in 2019 due to an ongoing protest by support staff who demanded their over-time monies. Classes have resumed.
Reuben Birin Special School for the Hearing Impaired in Port Elizabeth was torched twice and burgled several times in past weeks.
Speaking to the Dispatch after his keynote address, finance MEC Oscar Mabuyane said government was working on improving the quality of education of disabled pupils.
“We are currently working with the MEC of education [Mlungisi Mvoko] and the education superintended-general [Themba Kojana] is on top of this,” said Mabuyane...