Middelburg - uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) party members were allegedly blocked by school management and circuit manager from delivering school uniforms and essential packs to 26 underprivileged learners at Phumulela Secondary School in Rockdale.
“Although I and several members were without our party uniforms, we still urged them to allow the handover. When it became clear we were winning the argument about attire, they turned and claimed we hadn’t scheduled an appointment,” said uMkhonto WeSizwe Provincial Legislature Qhawekazi Mtshweni in early February 2026.
Mtshweni said the school was informed in advance. “Four members from our party visited the principal to present our donation plan, and the principal directed them to the school committee. There, one of the teachers provided a list of students who would benefit from the contributions. So they were aware we would arrive on Monday,” she explained. “However, when we showed up on Monday, the circuit manager was there, and he just refused to accommodate us.”
She went on to clarify that Phumulela isn’t the only school they aimed to support with their donations. They had already made contributions to LD Moetanalo Secondary School on 30 January 2026, where the handover went smoothly.
“The party members who joined me were dressed in our party regalia, and everything went smoothly. This is purely a political issue because our donations originate from the MK, and it appears someone would not have had an issue if it was the ANC.”
Beauty Simelane, a member of the party, recalled previous donations while still part of the ANC, where they wore party uniforms without issue. “I, along with others like Mike Clements, visited the school numerous times to donate sanitary pads. We were still active members of the ANC during that time, proudly wearing our party uniforms,” she said.
Community member Emily Mahlangu voiced her frustration regarding the school's handling of the situation. “They’re depriving our children of uniforms and essential resources simply because they don’t value them, because they can afford to buy uniforms for their children at predominantly white schools,” she said.
The Provincial Education Department Media Liaison Officer, Gerald Sambo, claimed that the distribution of uniforms was not coordinated with the school principal beforehand. "As classes had already begun and students were settled in, the school suggested rescheduling the handover to a date that better fits the school’s timetable to reduce any potential disruptions," said Sambo.
