Mpfariseni Secondary School in Thohoyandou is struggling under overcrowding, understaffing, and unsafe infrastructure, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo says. DA Limpopo spokesperson on education, Jacques Smalle MPL, said the party will write to the provincial Department of Education asking for immediate provision of mobile classrooms and urgent attention to staff shortages.

An oversight inspection by the DA revealed that the school, meant to have eleven teachers, currently has only six. Grade 12 classes are overcrowded, with 123 learners sharing a single classroom. Others have to study outside or in unsafe, dilapidated classrooms.

Smalle said the school’s buildings are old and neglected, posing a danger to learners. Windows are broken, ceilings crumble, and there are not enough classrooms to meet demand.

Limpopo education department spokesperson Mike Maringa said the list of priority schools, like Mpfariseni, was long. “There are 3,800 schools under the department of education in Limpopo, and I can say that more than half are on the priority list. Some might need to be renovated, while others need to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch.”

Smalle warned that the situation reflects a broader problem in Limpopo. “The provincial education department’s duty is not only to place learners in schools. It must provide classrooms, teachers, and resources for safe, quality education.” The DA is demanding action to prevent further disruption to learners’ education.