Residents of Magangeni village near Elim have taken it upon themselves to clean and protect the unfinished Lemana College, which was intended to be transformed into Lemana Secondary School.
Concerned about the state of the historic college and ongoing vandalism, a group of 60 residents initiated the Ahiti Pfuxeni Project three weeks ago. The project aims to prevent further damage to the college and preserve its historical significance.
The Lemana project was initiated by the Department of Public Works in 2013 but has remained incomplete for over a decade. The initial contractor, Bankuna Engineering and Construction, was dismissed in May 2017 because of poor performance. Lilithalethu Trading 41 took over the project in June 2018 but faced disruptions from community members claiming that the previous contractor owed payment to local labourers and sub-contractors. As a result, the project was halted in September 2019. The incomplete state of the college has forced local children to travel long distances to access education.
The Ahiti Pfuxeni Project was launched by residents after witnessing theft and vandalism at the college. They aim to protect the site and prevent it from becoming a criminal hotspot. The community members are committed to cleaning and safeguarding the college as they value its historical significance.
Residents such as Nkhesani Mahungu expressed their disappointment at the ongoing vandalism and theft. They have taken it upon themselves to clean the site and raise awareness around the matter.
Ndhuna Mawisa Mabasa from Shirley village expressed his frustration with the government's neglect to finish the college project as he believes that completing the project would benefit learners from low-income households.
The Ahiti Pfuxeni Project hopes that the government will complete the project and transform it into a Further Education and Training (FET) college. They are calling on individuals or companies to assist them with protective clothing for their efforts.
The spokesperson of the Limpopo Department of Basic Education (DBE), Mr Mike Maringa, stated that the resumption date for the project was currently unknown but that a contractor would be appointed once the issues were resolved.
The Department of Public Works' spokesperson, Mr Witness Tiva, said that the termination of the previous contract had been concluded, and the department is working with the DBE to obtain the necessary approval and review the scope of work for project completion. Progress is expected within a month's time.