Neglected government houses used by bunking pupils, thieves

MAFUCULA – Residents from Mafucula community have raised concerns over the growing impact of abandoned government houses on learner behaviour and academic performance under Mhlumeni Inkhundla.

 Their argument is that the neglected structures are destroying the future of their children and demanding urgent intervention before they are forced to take matters into their own hands.

At the centre of the concerns are two government houses located near Ekuhlamukeni Primary School and Ekuhlamukeni High School. Once built to accommodate key civil servants, the houses now stand abandoned, their deterioration blamed for creating a breeding ground for truancy and misconduct among pupils.

Community members say the situation has reached a tipping point. “These houses are destroying the future of our children,” said Bucopho, Sambulo Masuku. “If nothing is done soon, as a community we will be left with no choice but to decide for ourselves what action to take.”

Masuku said the abandoned houses have become hiding places for learners, particularly those from Ekuhlamukeni High School, who use them to bunk classes and engage in inappropriate behaviour. “Pupils leave their homes in the morning wearing school uniforms, but instead of attending lessons, they come here,” he said. “They spend hours hiding in these houses, doing things that are not acceptable.”

According to Masuku, the problem is most visible during school breaks, when groups of pupils gather at the site. However, in more serious instances, some learners reportedly spend entire school days there, missing lessons altogether while their parents remain unaware. “It is very painful because parents believe their children are at school learning,” he said. “Meanwhile, they are hiding in these abandoned structures.”

Residents say the behaviour taking place in the houses includes smoking and engaging in sexual activities — practices they describe as deeply worrying, particularly given the age of the pupils involved. The consequences, they argue, are already evident.

Parents have raised alarm over declining academic performance at the nearby schools, especially at Ekuhlamukeni High School. While acknowledging that education outcomes are influenced by multiple factors, many in the community believe the abandoned houses are a significant contributor. “Our children are not performing well anymore,” said one concerned parent. “When you investigate, you find that they are not attending classes. These houses are part of the problem.”

The physical condition of the houses reflects years of neglect. Built as two-bedroom units, the structures have deteriorated significantly. One of the houses is already in an advanced state of disrepair, with its red-tiled roof partially destroyed and several tiles missing.

Doors and windows have been removed, electrical wiring stripped and the interior left exposed. The building is now littered with animal waste from cattle and goats, as well as human waste, creating an unsanitary and hazardous environment. Despite these conditions, pupils continue to use the site.

 “It is a health hazard,” said another resident. “There is dirt and waste everywhere, yet children are going there every day.”

The second house, though still structurally intact, remains locked. It was previously used as a preschool for children in the community before being closed following a visit by a government official from the Housing Department, identified as Khumalo, who reportedly ordered that it be secured pending renovations.

However, no renovations have taken place. “We were promised that the houses would be attended to,” Masuku said. “But up to now, nothing has been done.”

Frustrated by the lack of action, the community took the step of demolishing the more dilapidated house, arguing that it posed a danger and would be costly to repair.

“We had to act because it was no longer safe,” Masuku explained. “But even after demolishing it, the problem has not gone away because one house still remains.”

Residents say the continued presence of the remaining structure means pupils still have a place to hide, and the cycle of truancy and misconduct continues.

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