The deputy minister of sports, arts and culture, Nocawe Mafu, said various project are implemented with the aim to uplift Thembeka Senior Secondary School and to service the rest of the community of Likazi, such as an upgrade of the school’s dilapidated boarding hostel and a borehole for quality water supply.

Mafu said this at the Back-to-School Community Outreach at the school on Monday February 5, when she handed over 100 pairs of school shoes, bulk sanitary towels, uniforms, sports kits, library books and a donation of R10 000 to be utilised for more necessities. “I adopted the school on my first visit when the schools reopened in January. The management requested assistance. We are back again with some of the things they requested, and we are already working towards upgrading the hostel and installing the water borehole as per the requests.”

One of the stakeholders who supported the campaign, the deputy speaker of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, Jeaneth Thabethe, said the community has raised some concerns about the abandoned hostel building. “The building has become a hub of criminal activities that not only affect the community, but the school as well. We ask the deputy minister to tackle this issue in an urgent manner. An upgrade to a youth centre would be beneficial to the community of KaNyamazane,” she said.

Working together with the office of the deputy minister, the Malumbi Foundation outlined that an air conditioner and a computer set will be installed in the school library, as well as a bulk communication system and a new science lab. A school uniform fund will be established, to which sponsors will donate and the school will then identify beneficiaries and provide uniforms to them.

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The outreach was supported by the deputy minister of basic education, Dr Reginah Mhaule, the Mpumalanga MEC for sports, culture and recreation, Thandi Shongwe, the ANC Ehlanzeni’s regional secretary, Folas Sibuyi, and SPAR.

Mhaule encouraged the learners to take responsibility and accountability of their studies and to make better use of the resources that were handed over. “All the grades are vital in working towards outstanding Grade 12 results. We want all the learners to make fruitful decisions that will allow them to make better career choices. This is the start of amazing schooling opportunities at this school,” Mhaule said.

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During the outreach, the school choir performed various items such as poems and musical numbers to celebrate the occasion.