Diary Series of Deaf People

19/10/2025

Matriculants at Filadelfia Secondary LSEN School in Soshanguve, Gauteng may not be able to sit for their final exams beginning on Wednesday because the City of Tshwane has cut off their electricity.

The City cut off water and electricity at the school due to an alleged outstanding municipal debt of R7,1 million.

READ: https://thedeafdiary.com/city-of-tshwane-slammed-for-cutting-electricity-to-special-needs-school-on-eve-of-matric-exams/

21/09/2025

The SGB at a makeshift boarding school in Limpopo, Botlokwa Special School have re-counted the indignity of pupils with disabilities and staff who despite their dire conditions dwell in dormitories where there are no indoor toilets. When nature calls, the boarding staffers who are near their retirement age, have no choice but to urinate in buckets at night in the full view of 135 children that they share dormitories with.

READ: https://thedeafdiary.com/no-indoor-toilet-for-boarding-learners-with-disabilities/

21/09/2025

Eskom, the Minister of Department of Basic Education (DBE) and Minister of Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) moved swiftly two weeks ago in response to the exposé of the huge, rising and erratic bills that have been strangling the country’s special schools for the blind, deaf and pupils with different disabilities.

READ: https://thedeafdiary.com/eskom-energy-and-basic-education-ministers-to-install-solar-panels-for-the-special-schools/

08/09/2025

SADTU condemns exorbitant electricity costs at LSEN schools

READ: https://thedeafdiary.com/sadtu-condemns-exorbitant-electricity-costs-at-lsen-schools/

08/09/2025

SADTU condemns exorbitant electricity costs at LSEN schools

READ:

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has called on the Department of Basic Education to intervene decisively to ensure that no schools for learners with special education needs (LSEN) is forced to shut down or compromise its teaching and learning environment due to unaffordable ele...

06/09/2025

Huge, erratic electricity costs means deaf pupils are without basic learning tools.

READ: https://thedeafdiary.com/huge-erratic-electricity-costs-means-deaf-pupils-are-without-basic-learning-tools/

06/09/2025

Huge, erratic electricity costs means deaf pupils are without basic learning tools.

READ:

Special schools that cater for deaf and blind pupils are struggling with massive, rising and erratic electricity bills which are chewing up the grants they should be using for basic equipment. 

13/01/2025

Partially blind and Deaf Grade 12 learners excel!

READ:

An 18-year-old partially blind pupil from Setotolwane Elsen Secondary School in Limpopo is among the national top matric achievers in the special schools. This is despite writing his 2024 final matric exams in a classroom with holes in the floor and a ceiling with exposed electrical wires. 

31/12/2024

NEWS BULLETIN| 2025 Looks Bright for Deaf and Blind learners

The Setotolwane ELSEN Secondary School reporting project is led by the Diary Series of Deaf People in collaboration with the Sunday Times. It is supported by the Henry Nxumalo Foundation.

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15/12/2024

Five days following Diary Series of Deaf People’s visit to the Limpopo Department of Education on November 20, spokesperson Mosebjane Kgaffe said, a contractor has been appointed for renovation and started work (November 25). Kgaffe said, “The contract amount is R450,000. The completion is scheduled for the end of January."

READ:

Bathing and brushing teeth in overwhelming stench where urine flows on the floor will soon be a thing of the past for deaf and blind pupils of Setotolwane ELSEN Secondary School in Mankweng, Limpopo. 

08/12/2024

SGB says: "Sometimes when teachers are teaching, the ceiling would just fall."
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Section 24 (a) of the Bill of Rights provides that everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing, but Deaf and blind pupils from Setotolwane ELSEN Secondary School in Mankweng, Limpopo are far from enjoying this right. 

08/12/2024

“There is a pipe at the graveyard where we fetch water. We drink that water and cook with it. We need that water.”
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Blind and Deaf pupils from Setotolwane ELSEN Secondary boarding school in Mankweng, Limpopo have recounted their traumatic experiences of allegedly fetching water from the nearby Mankweng Cemetery for drinking, bathing and flushing clogged toilets when there is no water.