Sowetan reporters shine a spotlight on three schools

• THESELE Secondary School in White City Jabavu, Soweto, was shut down in 2005 when it experienced dwindling numbers of pupils because of migration to cities and the suburbs.

The education department also found that the school was built on a wetland.

Boasting 10 blocks and 21 classrooms, the school is arguably one of the biggest in the township.

After its closure the building became a crime hub in the area.

The school was built before the 1976 Soweto uprising.

In 2007 neighbours with permission from the former school principal and the department of public works took control of the school.

Now it is home to more than 20 different businesses, including woodwork, carpentry and tailoring.

The businesses have a workforce of more than 50 people.

"We need more schools like this [abandoned] so that we can use them to improve our lives," said Jabu Ntuli, the school's caretaker.

• Leshome Junior High School in the rural area of Botshabelo, Free State, was closed in 2008 when pupil enrolment dropped.

The school, built in 1983 and notorious with community members, was riddled with allegations of drug abuse, violence and vandalism by its own pupils.

Former pupil Molebogeng Skhosana said: "When boys came back from initiation schools they would start harassing girls and other small boys."

But Leshome's former principal, Rancho Tlhaole, said the pupil numbers dropped because primary schools had decided to increase their curriculum.

Up until now the school has been in an advanced stage of dilapidation.

However, Tlhaole said plans were under way to turn the school into an FET college.

• In the North West village of Dinokana, outside Zeerust, a group of 70 pupils, some as young as six, walk a distance of 2km to school.

This is after their school, Puana Primary School, was shut down in 2009 due to low pupil enrolment.

The two-block school comprising eight classes was built in 1968.

Its pupils were moved to Gareosenye Primary School, situated 2km from Puana.