Mandisa Shiceka High off to a clean start thanks to Santaco
Mandisa Shiceka School of Specialisation and the South African National Taxi Council came together to improve the school environment.
Schools are very much open for business and many organisations based in Kagiso wanted to ensure that the new year got off to a good clean start.
On January 15, members of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) and some volunteers were all part of a community development initiative that hopes to inspire other communities in the West Rand by cleaning in and around Mandisa Shiceka High School.
According to Alfred Masiu, chairperson of the business unit of Santaco, the aim was to improve the school environment for learners which in turn will encourage them to be more academically focused.
This was just a small step but we know it will lead to something bigger.
“The project is a collaboration of local schools on the West Rand along with various taxi associations in the district. As many as 50 volunteers made their way to the school to clean up, renovate, and install new learning equipment for the learners just in time before schools open so learners can witness a much-needed facelift.”
Alfred added that the organisation collaborates with schools in the district to not only improve the well-being of a learning environment but empower people for a better future.
“We interact and collaborate with many schools in the district. We not only care about the well-being of school infrastructure but also school safety. We have many drug awareness programmes and crime prevention programmes that we use to teach to young people so they can have a role to play.”
The initiative has reached out to as many as 14 schools in the West Rand and hopes to increase its reach.
Mandisa Shiceka headmaster Mkhulu Skhosana also added that a safe and clean environment leads to changing the attitude of people.
“When new learners come on the premise we want them to be under the impression that we are a school that has values and standards. That in turn will teach the learners about good values and they will learn to be good citizens not only in the district but also in the country,” Skhosana said.
