Angry Parents Shutdown Khulanolwazi Primary School over Deteriorating Infrastructure
Thabo Motlhabi
Angry parents and community members have embarked on a four-day strike over the deteriorating infrastructure at Khulanolwazi Primary School in Braamfischerville, Soweto. On Tuesday, 25 August 2026
The protests began on Tuesday, 25th August 2026, when frustrated parents and community members gathered at the school to voice their neglect and broken promises by the Department of Basic Education.
Parents say their children have been forced to learn under unacceptable conditions for years, with some temporary classroom structures having been in place since 2002.
According to the concerned parents, the school infrastructure has deteriorated to a point where most classrooms are no longer suitable for learning and learners. They cited broken windows, doors, damaged floors, leaking floors at the toilets, broken buckets, leaking toilets, leaking pipes, broken basins, leaking taps, urine on the damaged floor, and poor sanitation.
The school reportedly has 12 flushing toilets, but only two (2) are currently functioning, forcing both boys and girls to share the available facilities. Angry parents also raised concerns about smelly urine on the damaged toilet floor and foul smells caused by blocked and leaking toilets.
The poor conditions have also raised concerns about learners’ health. Frustrated parents say learners are exposed to extreme cold during winter and poor sanitation throughout the year, resulting in some children becoming ill with the flu, chronic disease, and infections. They say these illnesses place an additional financial burden on families, many of whom depend on social grants to support their households.
The situation became tense on Tuesday morning when angry, frustrated parents and community members barricaded streets with big rocks and burning tires during the protests to demonstrate their frustration and disappointments. The school was subsequently shut down, and learners were sent home as protesters continued with their demonstration.
Dr. Miyola Sesedinyane, an SGB member at Khulanolwazi Primary School, was called to help calm the situation after parents tried to enter the school premises, and also police were called to assist with restoring calm.
“As SGB members, we tried to calm the angry parents and community members with the help of the police to help control the situation that was out of hand, and some parents were at work, and where would other learners go, and we were concerned about their safety. Our school infrastructure is in a bad state, and we need interventions from officials.”
Dr. Sesedinyane further stated, “We promised parents a formal meeting with relevant stakeholders to write a petition and memorandum to be submitted physically to the officials, MMC of Gauteng Education, Office of the Gauteng Premier, and Department of Basic Education, and we also sent emails to get the attention to come and account.” Parents have been waiting for the school to be rebuilt, or at least learners to be allocated to nearby schools around the township, but their plea fell on deaf ears. Parents had reached a breaking point after years of what they described as empty promises.”
“This has been ongoing for too long, and parents have had enough of empty promises. They want a better future for their learners,” said Dr. Sesedinyane.
A concerned parent, Miss Matsuishi Thupa, also expressed her disappointment over the conditions of the school and what she described as the continued failure of officials to address the learners’ needs:
“Our children are always getting sick due to poor infrastructure, especially during the winter season, and also during the summer because of the bad smell from blocked and leaking toilets. The school has broken windows, broken doors, damaged floors, and urine from the damaged bucket toilets or seats. The sad part is that both boys and girls have to share two (2) toilets out of twelve. This situation prompted parents to take action by protesting to express their disappointment over the ongoing issues at the school.
The continued shutdown is raising concern about the impact on learners’ education, particularly as the academic year approaches its final stages and learners prepare for their final exams.
Angry parents say they would continue with their protests until the department and other stakeholders meet with them and provide a concrete solution to the long-running infrastructure crisis at Khulanolwazi Primary School.