Limpopo-based mining company, Northam Platinum Mine-Zondereinde, has handed over three newly constructed schools in Lusikisiki, which falls under the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality, after the company invested more than R17 million towards the schools’ construction.
The construction of the schools in Lusikisiki, the mining company said, was in appreciation of the area being one of the major areas that its labourers come from, with six percent of its total labour force coming from Lusikisiki.
The company’s intervention in school infrastructure upgrades in Lusikisiki saw Emyezweni Senior Primary School and Sichwe Junior Secondary School each receiving six newly constructed classrooms, a borehole and new ablution facilities with flushable toilets.
Mbotyi Senior Primary School also benefited, through upgrades to its Grade R facilities, as well as the construction of new ablution facilities.
“Through our social and labour plan (SLP) commitment, driven by the appreciation of the workforce, we have invested in our people. A strategic decision was made to contribute meaningfully to OR Tambo District Municipality,” said sustainability executive at Northam Platinum Holdings Limited, Dali Duma.
“In carrying out these infrastructure upgrades at the schools we were in consultation with the Eastern Cape Department of Education, which helped us identify the schools most in need of the intervention in the Lusikisiki area,” Duma added.
The Eastern Cape Education MEC, Fundile Gade, also joined the handover ceremonies of the three schools, which took place at Mbotyi Senior Primary School on February 8, followed by Myezweni Senior Primary School on February 10 and concluded with Sichwe Junior Secondary School on February 11.
“The situation at all these schools was really dire, in terms of infrastructure. For instance, at Sichwe JSS, they were using mud structure classrooms and we had to demolish them completely and begin construction of the new ones, while at Mbotyi SPs the Grade R class was being taught in a mud rondavel and using dilapidated pit toilets with no roof,” added Duma.
The mining company further donated a pair of school shoes and a school bag to each learner at the three schools.
“Gade wishes to call on other businesses in the private sector to give more to needy schools in the province, especially now that the province seems to be moving in the right direction and produces good results yearly. The donation by Northam Platinum Mine-Zondereinde is well appreciated and the communities have committed to protect the infrastructure against any threats of vandalism,” said Gade’s spokesperson, Vuyiseka Mboxela.
