Elderly small scale farmers from eMba struggle without school’s garden
A group of old aged small scale farmers who are planting vegetables at Maphala Gulube Primary School’s garden claim that the principal chased them away.
They said they were told that they are going to infect children with Covid-19.
They said the principal never gave them notice and when they asked her to open an alternative gate for them so that they can not get in contact with the learners, she refused.
“Maybe she thinks that because we are old, we have Covid-19?
“We are dependent on this vegetable garden. We eat from it, sell vegetables and make money with which we can send our grandchildren to school.
“Our children are here in this school now we are struggling to put food on the table for them,” said Ms Thembeni Mbele, a member of this farming group.
She said their pension and grant money are not enough to sustain their families. Gardening is all they know because they grew up on farms.
The elderly farmers said they also give crops to the same school to support its feeding scheme.
Ms Joana Ndlovu, chairman of the school governing body, said they are aware of the problem and are looking at ways to resolve the misunderstanding.
“The school decided to stop them from planting in its vegetable garden during the hard lockdown early last year.
No one was allowed on school premises then.
“When schools reopened, the Department of Basic Education announced strict protocols to be followed to protect learners from being infected by the virus.“
Ms Ndlovu said that because classes are nearer to the school garden, the school was forced to restrict access to its premises.
“The principal called them and explained the school’s decision to them.
“As a community member, I know that some of them are poverty-stricken and they were relying on the school garden for their survival.
“They can send their delegation to the school then we can arrange a meeting where we will come up with a solution,” said Ms Ndlovu.