Mma Phokwane
Parent of Karabo · Grade 1"On the first day Karabo cried at the gate. Mrs Mokoena sat with her on the step until she finished the bottle of water I packed. By Friday she was the one running ahead of me to school."
Voices from Mabeskraal homes
What our families actually say.
Eight short notes — collected at parent open day, on WhatsApp, between school runs. Not edited for polish; only for length.
Parent Voices
The school year, told in eight voices.
The names below are real first names with the family surname shortened — we asked first.
Rre Mosimanegape
Father of Lesego · Grade 4"Mrs Botha emails me every Friday with one small win. I am a long-distance lorry driver — those messages are how I stay close to my son's week."
Gogo Sefako
Grandmother of Naledi · Grade 5"I cannot read English well, but I read with Naledi every night. Mrs Pillay gave us a small home reader bag. Even my Setswana is improving from this granddaughter."
Mma Modise
Mother of Tumelo · Grade 6"I was worried because we cannot afford extra maths classes. Then Tumelo joined the Saturday Olympiad club, and Ms Dlamini bought him an extra textbook out of her own pocket."
Mr van Rooyen
Father of Marike · Grade 3"We moved here from Rustenburg last year. Marike is the only Afrikaans-home-language child in her class. She came home in week two singing in Setswana. The principal greeted us by name in week one."
Mma Khumalo
Parent of Sipho · Grade 7"Sipho is leaving us this December. The Grade 7 readiness portfolio Ms Mthembu helped him build — a whole folder of work — convinced the local high school to take him."
Bra Tebogo
Uncle and guardian of Lerato · Grade 2"I am a young uncle, raising my late sister's child. The school never makes us feel different. Mrs van Wyk asked me how Lerato was sleeping, the way an aunt would."
Mma Pillay-Naidoo
Mother of Asha · Grade 5"We chose Makweleng over a fancier school in town. I wanted Asha to know her village before she leaves it. The Heritage Day project was worth the choice on its own."
"This school does not promise miracles. It just keeps showing up — every Monday morning, for nine years."
A note left in the suggestion box · 2025