In 1997 the children of Mnqobokazi community were walking long distances to access schooling, most were not attending school because of the length of travel.The community came together and decided that they needed to have their own school and they appointed a Principal to run it.
Mrs Zikhali was taken by the community Headman to visit the site of the new school. It was just grassland with no infrastructure at all. Nevertheless, by November 1997, 60 children were registered to start at the school in January 1998.
The school opened under the shade of a tree and ran until persistent rainfall created a river which blocked access to the school grounds for a large portion of the community, including Mrs Zikhali herself, who had to use a small boat to pass. It became obvious that this site was not practical for the majority of children attending the school and a new location was sought out.
In January 1999 Mrs Zikhali started in a new location in Mnqobokazi, under the shade of four large trees. Three trees acted as classrooms for Grades 1, 2 and 3 and one tree served as the administrative space for the school. In this new location, 220 children were attending and Mrs Zikhali was supported by volunteer teachers. On windy days schooling was very difficult and on rainy days it was closed.
In 1999, Mrs Zikhali applied to Africa Foundation (now Wild Impact) for support to provide more permanent structures for her school.
Having accepted her proposal, the generous support of Wild Impact donors enabled the first 2 classrooms of Nkomo School to be constructed in 2000. Thereafter, through the commitment and determination of Mrs Zikhali, school enrolment and infrastructure kept on growing. By 2006, six new classrooms had been added and the school boasted an enrolment of almost 800 children.
Observing that children were often absent, due to the effect of HIV/AIDS on family life, Mrs Zikhali secured funding to build a centre for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), based at Nkomo School, that served the whole community.
“I thought if we could create a centre where these children could receive a meal and be cared for after school without having to return to an empty house, the quality of their lives might improve.”
~Mrs Zikhali~
Under Mrs Zikhali’s progressive leadership, Nkomo School was awarded the titles of Health Promoting School, and Full-Service School. Such schools are equipped to provide for the full range of learning, mental and physical health needs of learners.
By 2020 the school had 448 girls and 446 boys enrolled with 24 teaching staff and 19 classrooms.
Over the years Wild Impact supported development with classrooms, ablutions, water supply and the OVC centre establishment as well as the
construction of a pre-school – Bhekinkomo PreSchool – also a vision of Mrs Zilkahali’s, situated behind the primary school.
Learners Enrolled
Grade 7 Learners (2025)
Percent
Grade 7 Learners Achieving >60% (2025)
Classrooms for 896 Learners
Staff complement
Wild Impact is a Public Benefit Organisation registered in South Africa. Reg. No.: 930002115