Zandile Bangani

@agirliesgirl

Zandile Bangani was born and raised in Cape Town. She writes about matters pertaining to education and is committed to improving the level of education available to working-class and impoverished families.

Stories by: Zandile Bangani

COVID-19
• Analysis
School readiness in question as coronavirus spreads
Science has given the green light to schools reopening as children are unlikely to catch or transmit Covid-19. But the lack of water and toilets in addition to overcrowding at no-fee schools poses a risk.
By: Zandile Bangani
25 May 2020

COVID-19
• News
Hunger could be as big a threat as Covid-19
Vulnerable households are struggling to put food on the table as the government lockdown puts their livelihoods on hold. Vouchers and food parcels help, but are they enough to prevent malnutrition?
By: Zandile Bangani
18 May 2020

COVID-19
• News
Depression and domestic violence on the rise
The fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic is being felt not only in the growing number of infections but also in an increase in general anxiety and cases of gender-based violence.
By: Zandile Bangani
11 May 2020

COVID-19
• News
Covid-19’s forgotten learners
The Department of Basic Education has been unable to support pupils with different learning needs during the lockdown, leaving parents concerned that their children are being left behind.
By: Zandile Bangani
11 May 2020

COVID-19
• News
Home learning in Covid-19 lockdown proves daunting
Online learning is not as simple as downloading the educational material and in an unequal country like South Africa, not all pupils have equal access to the internet.
By: Zandile Bangani
6 Apr 2020

COVID-19
• News
SA lockdown is a dilemma for parents and children
Leaving children unsupervised as schools close is a worry. But the Covid-19 lockdown means parents staying at home too. Not earning is impossible for people struggling to afford the basics of life.
By: Zandile Bangani
24 Mar 2020

• News
Lack of student funding still an issue
Students have been protesting at the start of the academic year against financial exclusion and a lack of accommodation. It’s an all too familiar situation, but what are the alternatives?
By: Amanda Khoza, Zandile Bangani
16 Mar 2020

• Features
Soweto computer lab gives life to dreams
ACFS Community Education in Meadowlands provides daily meals and after-school support to children, and now has a computer lab. Parents can learn, too, and benefit from the vegetable garden.
By: Zandile Bangani
10 Mar 2020

• News
Women’s shelters struggle for funding
South Africa has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence, but its shelters are battling to stay afloat – and government departments have been slow to explain why.
By: Zandile Bangani
29 Jan 2020

• News
Indigenous games are an educational and heritage trove
A Wits scholar hopes to preserve knowledge production systems passed down from generation to generation in the games children play, which are now at risk of disappearing.
By: Zandile Bangani
7 Jan 2020

• News
Xenophobia in classrooms harms learners
Teenagers remain traumatised and fearful after xenophobia flared up in their schools and compromised their education.
By: Zandile Bangani
6 Nov 2019

• News
Township crèches must now register, says government
The formalisation of the Early Childhood Development sector is putting pressure on care facilities already working with the bare minimum.
By: Zandile Bangani
28 Oct 2019

• News
Farm workers march for basic rights
Dismal working and living conditions on farms drove farm workers on to the streets of Cape Town in protest against inhumane treatment, gender discrimination and evictions.
By: Zandile Bangani
27 Sep 2019

• News
Graduates and their unemployment dilemma
South African university graduates are willing to take menial jobs because of the dearth of suitable employment despite being highly educated.
By: Zandile Bangani
7 Aug 2019

• Features
Young gymnast hampered by lack of facilities
Orapeleng Vivian has the talent, but a lack of training facilities, coaches and sponsorship is impeding her dream of competing internationally.
By: Zandile Bangani
19 Jul 2019

• News
Domestic workers demand to be treated fairly under law
The courts declared it unconstitutional to exclude domestic workers from being compensated for injuries sustained on duty. But legal protection continues to be difficult to access.
By: Musawenkosi Cabe, Zandile Bangani
28 Jun 2019

• News
Domestic workers: overworked, underpaid and unprotected
Armed with brooms and mops, domestic workers took to the streets to demand better wages, recourse to legal protection against unscrupulous employers, proper paid leave and payslips.
By: Zandile Bangani
28 Jun 2019

• Features
Giving children a solid foundation for learning
A preschool and aftercare centre in Germiston is an apt model for early childhood centres, preparing young children for pre-primary and helping bring older children up to speed.
By: Zandile Bangani
7 Jun 2019

• News
Should learners have to choose between sanitary pads and school?
The National Sanitary Dignity Implementation Framework aims to provide pads free in no-fee schools. Ambitiously, its long-term goal is to distribute to all girls in all schools.
By: Zandile Bangani
4 Jun 2019

• Features
Parental love helps children with disabilities
Battling slow and inadequate government care, parents of children with disabilities both go it alone and set up organisations to help their offspring live full lives.
By: Tebadi Mmotla, Zandile Bangani
2 Apr 2019

• News
Gauteng school applications not accessible to all
The application system excludes many guardians and parents who don’t have access to the internet and so can’t easily apply for school places for their children and grandchildren.
By: Zandile Bangani
25 Feb 2019