Mfuleni Primary School celebrates 50 Years of empowering young minds

Scores of parents, pupils, alumni, and community members gathered at Mfuleni Primary School on Saturday, September 27, to mark the school’s 50th anniversary.

Founded in 1975 under the apartheid government, the school has served generations of pupils in the township and continues to be a cornerstone of education in the area.

Mfuleni Primary is the oldest educational facility in the area and serves as a haven that guards and empowers children with love and care.

The school's principal, Nompendulo Ngcebetsha,said the school is less privileged, with many children coming from difficult backgrounds where parents are often unemployed, yet it has stood the test of time for half a century.

She said she was proud that her school has grown from strength to strength over the years.

“You know, all the schools that were built years ago, the infrastructure is not up to scratch. Not only that, but the facility itself was small and not conducive to children. However, the principals and the staff who came before me tried to rebuild everything. They left, and I also did my part. If you look around, we have classes for Grade Rs that were not there before. We have also acquired this big chunk of land. There are more positives than negatives,” she said.

She said the school still instills good values in the lives of children and praised those who started the school back in 1975.

“Manzomthombo and Nyameko Primaries are products of this school. This is a great achievement. It has produced notable individuals, such as the current local councillor, who is a product of this school. But credit should go to all those who came before me. Remember, I only came here in 1993 after they had done a lot of groundwork for the school,” she said.

The school has 1 600 pupils and 45 teachers. Also present to cherish the school’s long-standing relationship with the community were ward councillors, pastors, community members, and former pupils.

Ward councillor, Mongezi Madikane, a former pupil, recalled how they were cared for by the teachers and the community at large. Mr Madikane urged the staff to continue the good work they do for the Mfuleni community.

The celebrations were filled with song and dance, reflecting the vibrant Xhosa culture. Teachers and pupils showcased their singing talents and dances, dressed in beautiful cultural attire. School Governing Body secretary, Sibulele Dimanda, said that the teachers of the school have been dedicated to caring for its children.

He explained that they chose to celebrate the milestone during Heritage Month for a reason, highlighting the importance of the relationship between teachers and the community. He said that had it not been for that relationship, the celebration would not have been a success.

Grade seven pupil, Zizo Daki, expressed her wish for the school to remain as good as it is and hopes to see more educated individuals emerging from her school. The celebrations continued until late on Saturday.