Gold One and partner donate uniforms and shoes to local schools

Gold One employee Phodiso Makapane grew up going to school barefoot and partially dressed in uniform—simply because his family couldn’t afford proper shoes or clothes.

Now working as a Social and Labour Plan (SLP) assistance officer, Makapane reflects on his childhood in Kgaphamadi Village, located in the Waterberg District of Limpopo.

Attending school without a full uniform affected his sense of dignity and led to irregular school attendance.

Determined to ensure that children in similar situations don’t suffer the same indignity, Makapane led a school uniform drive by Gold One and its partner, Masana Energy Solutions.

On June 4, the companies donated uniforms and shoes to Chief Albert Luthuli Primary No. 2, Lesiba Secondary, Dinoto Technical Secondary, and Hulwazi Secondary School.

Additional donations were made to four more schools in Etwatwa, including Thopodi Primary School, on June 6.
“I went to school without shoes. Unfortunately, I had no one to help—we had no mines or factories nearby,” said Makapane.

“Working in the SLP and helping Gold One launch initiatives like this is very personal to me. I don’t want these children to go through what I did. We want them to succeed in life and become responsible citizens.”

Although the initiative forms part of Gold One’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, Makapane emphasised that their goal goes beyond that—it’s about making a tangible difference in the lives of children living near the mine.

“We aim to serve the communities in which we operate. Schoolchildren should be worrying about their homework, not whether they have a full uniform. A learner dressed in proper school attire feels confident.

“We want to give these learners the support they need to grow into whatever they dream of becoming—they are the future of South Africa,” he said.

Masana MD Morena Sithole echoed this sentiment, saying their focus is on making a positive impact in local communities.

“Our founding president, Nelson Mandela, once said education is one of the greatest equalisers.
If you invest in education, you give people a stepping stone to opportunity. At Masana, we believe education is a key tool in breaking the cycle of poverty,” Sithole said.

Chief Albert Luthuli Primary deputy principal Fikile Bhengu expressed heartfelt gratitude for the donation.

“If you look around, the need is clear. Just this morning, one of our learners arrived at school without shoes. Your generosity means so much to us. We truly appreciate it,” she said.

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