NightTalk withAubrey Masango

The City Press reported over the weekend that a school in the Eastern Cape is demanding answers after R4.9 million was allegedly spent on building nine toilets while children are cramped in classrooms and some are learning under trees.

The principal of the Myolwa Primary School in Lusikisiki, Mandisa Dlayiya says the school has four prefab structures which the Department of Education gave to the school in 2012.

She says the school has about 388 learners and it is logistically impossible to fit them all in four classrooms.

We have 48 Grade R learners that are accommodated in a mud structure build by the community and 84 Grade 1 learners in one classroom, 108 pupils- 70 Grade 2s and 38 Grade 3s, share a single classroom, 65 Grade 4s and 32 Grade 5s also share a classroom...

— Mandisa Dlayiya, Principal - Myolwa Primary School

It is difficult to teach two classes in one classroom and that is why we end up teaching under the tree.

— Mandisa Dlayiya, Principal - Myolwa Primary School

Dlayiya says the contractors that were building the pit latrines did not complete the job. They disappeared in November she adds.

She says they were promised 24 toilets but only the first 12 were completed and describes how the second batch of 12 "was left with holes uncovered".

To hear the rest of the conversation, listen below:

This article first appeared on 702 : Eastern Cape school still without proper sanitation and classes