Mapaputle Primary School crestMapaputle Primary
The team behind Mapaputle

Three educators, two cooks, one social worker, one gate keeper.

Officially we are listed with three educators on PERSAL. Unofficially, no school runs on three people. Here are the six grown-ups our learners see most often, and what they actually do.

Principal Mma Joyce smiling outside the school gate
Meet the team

Six grown-ups, sixty learners, one register.

Portrait of principal Joyce Mpho Sedikwe in a navy blazer outside the school
Principal · Foundation phase

Mma Joyce Mpho Sedikwe

28 years teaching · B.Ed (Foundation Phase), University of the North‑West

"I will phone you the Wednesday I see something change. Not the Friday before report cards."

Portrait of Mr Tau, our intermediate-phase teacher, in a checked shirt
Intermediate phase · Maths & NS

Mr Kagiso Tau

14 years teaching · B.Ed (Intermediate Phase), Tshwane University of Technology

"Numbers make sense one finger at a time. We start with fingers."

Portrait of Mma Lesedi, our home-language teacher, smiling warmly
Senior phase · Setswana & English

Mma Lesedi Mokwena

9 years teaching · B.A. Languages, North‑West University

"A child who can read aloud is a child the world cannot bully into silence."

Portrait of Mma Salome, the school's lead NSNP cook, wearing an apron in the kitchen doorway
NSNP lead · Volunteer cook

Mma Salome Phiri

9 years at Mapaputle · Trained on the district NSNP food-handling certificate

"No child eats last in my kitchen. Big plates first, then small. Then mine."

Portrait of our part-time school social worker in a calm office setting
Wellbeing · Visiting social worker

Ms Thandeka Khumalo

12 years in school social work · BSW, University of Pretoria · Shared with three rural schools

"Most of what a child needs is for one adult, on a difficult day, to remain calm."

Portrait of Mr Mokwena, the school's daytime gate keeper, with a friendly weathered smile
Gate · Daytime caretaker

Mr Petros Mokwena

22 years on duty · SGB-vetted · Knows every learner's name and every parent's bakkie

"I do not unlock for strangers. I do unlock my coat for the cold ones."