Our first topic: vandalism
When we arrived at Benjamin Mahlaseni High School , we found the school abandoned and in ruins. We wandered through the main school building, taking pictures. There were books lying around everywhere. In one class rooms on the top floor, we found people who were stripping out the window frames. We wanted to talk to them, but they fled as we approached. Then we ran into some women who were picking up broken planks for fire wood. They also did not choose to talk to us.
In the end, we managed to interviews some of the residents who live near the school. They gave us some very good insight as to what happens at the school during the night. One woman who stays next to the school complained that sometimes when thieves come to knock out window frames, the noise is so loud that she feels like they are in her house. She said that at one point the police came while the robbers were looting and they jumped over into her yard to escape.
The people we spoke to in the neighbourhood expressed their concern about the whole situation. According to them, the police were doing nothing to prevent the destruction of the school buildings, even though they had been repeatedly notified.
After leaving the school we went to the police station to speak to the police spokesperson, Mali Govender but unfortunately she was unavailable.
About a year ago, when we were still in third year, Bulali covered a story about plans for the Amasango Career School to move into the premises of Benjamin Mahlasela. Nothing had happened since then. To us, it seemed that the school has been abandoned by the government.
We tried to speak to the Department of Education, but we were unfortunate in our efforts; no-one was available to speak to us.
We also interviewed Linda Ngamlana, the principal of Amasango Career School. We asked he why they had not moved to Benjamin Mahlasela. Later, she contacted us and asked us not to air the interview. She was anxious about the effects that the interview might have on her job.
In addition, we interviewed the owners of two scrap yards, to find out whether it was possible that property of the school was being sold there. We had been directed there by some of the local community members, who blame scrap metal businesses for encouraging copper looting and public infrastructure vandalism. Both scrap yard owners denied being involved in transactions concerning stolen property.
Xolani used all this material for the first broadcast of his new current affairs show. Afterwards he told us that broadcast had received very positive feedback and that the Radio Grahamstown audience would like to hear more. We resolved, for the next show, to find out what is being done to restore the school.