The South African Human Rights Commission visited Van Coller Primary in Komani, Eastern Cape, on Monday to inspect conditions at the school.

This follows a GroundUp report that parents protested and forced the school to close after its toilets had not functioned for six years. Learners have been relieving themselves on the playground. The school has more than 500 learners from grades R to 7.

Eastern Cape legal officer Brandon Ainslie said the commission will continue monitoring the situation.

“I spoke with the principal and parents who were present, and I also walked around the school to observe the conditions firsthand,” said Ainslie. “While I cannot provide a full report at this stage as the investigation is ongoing, I witnessed two girls and two boys relieving themselves in the playground, in full view of others. I also observed poor conditions in the toilets, including a lack of running water and sinks without taps.”

Parents told GroundUp that the education department had promised for three years to fix the toilets.

Learners returned to school on Monday since the shutdown last week. This follows ongoing repairs to the toilets with some toilets now unblocked and being shared by boys and girls. Access to the toilets is being monitored by a kitchen staff member.

“We did not want to keep our children at home for too long because we don’t want them to miss lessons,” said parent Bulelani Qowa.

Qowa said last week it was decided to use the school maintenance budget to repair the toilets. He said they were also waiting for the Chris Hani District Municipality to resolve problems with the water supply.

Provincial education department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said the school received R28,629 for maintenance in 2025 but not a cent was spent. The school budget this year was R53,990. He said the department will send auditors to the school because there were complaints about a lack of transparency by school management.

At a meeting last week with teachers and parents, he said, complaints included broken windows, classrooms without doors, exposed electricity cables, uncut grass and a lack of fencing.

He said the Department of Public Works was contacted for assistance with some of these issues.

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For years, learners at Van Coller Primary School have had to relieve themselves on the playground because their toilets are broken.

Parents are protesting daily outside Van Coller Primary School in Komani, Eastern Cape, stopping classes. They have vowed to keep the school closed until the provincial education department repairs the school toilets, which have not functioned for six years. Learners have been relieving themselves in the playground.

The protest started Monday, when teachers returned for the school term. On Tuesday, parents blocked the gates and prevented parents registering their children. On Wednesday, learners were turned away.

Bulelani Qowa, a parent, said, “For the past three years the department has been telling the school that it is on the list for renovations.”

Qowa said he informed the ward councillor years ago, who had promised to assist.

“As parents, we have decided to take matters into our own hands. We cannot keep quiet while our children are exposed to health hazards. The teachers have functioning toilets; it is only our children who are without,” he said.

“There is a lot that is wrong at this school, but our immediate demand is for the toilets to be fixed. There is no running water due to a broken pipe that has not been repaired for years. The playground has effectively become a toilet, which has killed sport at this school. There’s no fencing and classrooms have broken ceilings and windows,” he said.

“Van Coller used to be one of the best schools in Komani, excelling in sport and music. My mother attended primary school here, and so did I. Now, my child is in grade 5. I want him to get the best foundation, but that is impossible under these conditions,” said Qowa.

Another parent, Sivuyile Qamza, said they would accept temporary toilets if necessary.

On Wednesday, we also met parents who opposed the disruption of classes. They were concerned that enrolment would drop and threaten the school’s viability, but agreed drastic action was needed.

Community leader Kowaba Swaartbooi said that at a special meeting on Tuesday with parents, teachers and the department, it was decided that the school maintenance budget be used to fix the toilets.

“We are hoping this will happen within the week so that learners can return to school on Monday. If not, we will have no choice but to continue with the protest,” said Swartbooi.

Provincial education department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima has not yet responded to GroundUp.

Parents have vowed to keep Van Coller Primary School closed until toilets are fixed.

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