Dear Honourable Minister Macpherson,

I hope this letter finds you well.
I am writing to you as an alumnus of Hlokoma High School, now a PhD student in social work, to urgently bring to your attention the dire state of the school’s infrastructure. My research, which focuses on the psychosocial support needs of learners, brought me back to my alma mater, and I was deeply saddened to find the school in severe disrepair.

Hlokoma High School in Mdantsane township, East London, is grappling with broken windows, collapsed ceilings, no electricity, no water, and peeling paint. The grounds are overgrown with uncut grass, creating an environment that is not only unsafe but also demotivating for learners and staff alike.

The demoralizing physical condition of the school severely impacts the learners’ emotional and psychological well-being. In my professional experience as a social worker, I have seen how a neglected environment fosters feelings of hopelessness, diminishing learners’ motivation and engagement with their education. The dilapidated state of the school creates a hostile emotional atmosphere that not only hinders academic performance but also saps the spirit of the learners. The absence of a safe and conducive learning environment leads to increased absenteeism, behavioural issues, and emotional distress.

When I attended Hlokoma High, we had fully functional classrooms, a library, a science lab, and vibrant extracurricular activities that included sports teams like rugby, netball, soccer, and athletics and cultural programs such as choir and drama. These activities provided a balanced education, nurturing our minds and bodies. These programmes no longer exist today, and learners are deprived of the cognitive and emotional stimulation that extracurricular activities offer.

The school's physical environment must be restored to reflect the value we place on education and our children's future. I appeal to your department to intervene by assisting in refurbishing Hlokoma High School. The learners deserve a school that inspires them, with clean, functional classrooms, electricity, water, repaired ceilings, and well-maintained grounds.
Your intervention would improve the physical structure and uplift the morale of learners, giving them hope and the motivation they need to succeed.

I would greatly appreciate your support and would be honoured to work with your department to ensure that Hlokoma High School can once again become a nurturing and empowering environment for its learners. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,
Ms Nokuzola Ngesi-Mavubengwana
PhD Student & Social Worker
Hlokoma High School Alumni