Mamelodi Square developers build computer lab for community
The lab will provide a safe space for skills transfer and upliftment as well as training and mentorship for all community members – young and old.
Mamelodi Square in partnership with McCormick Property Development (MPD) and Putprop Limited officially handed over a computer lab to the Stanza Bopape community centre last Thursday.
A total of R260 000 has been invested to create the lab with a stand-alone entrance as well as a guardhouse.
This particular CSI intervention goes beyond a purely financial donation as the work was done by a local, disabled contractor ensuring skills and enterprise development for the township-based entrepreneur.
The lab will provide a safe space for skills transfer and upliftment as well as training and mentorship for all community members – young and old.
Located on Shilovane Street, opposite the new Mamelodi Square shopping centre, the centre was established in 1994 and has been assisting the community of Mamelodi for almost three decades.
The centre runs an assorted programmes including skills development and training for local entrepreneurs, ID and social grant applications, facilitation of food and other donations as well as orphan care and support via the on-site drop-in centre.
The development of Mamelodi Square provided the team with an opportunity to work with representatives of the centre and then build the lab for community members who regularly use the facility.
McCormick project manager Peter Wefelmeier said he was appointed to ensure the Mamelodi Square flourished then was contacted by Dr Kurtis Mabena of Stanza Bopape clinic to ask if he would be interested in helping the clinic which had been a long-standing pillar in the community.
“As our immediate neighbour, we felt absolutely the need to support them, to be part of this amazing journey.”
He said he decided to add to the existing classroom “to create this new facility”.
“The centre created job opportunities for about 15 to 20 people and Mamelodi Square centre 1 200 during construction and probably another 800 are now employed permanently by the mall which opens on October 27,” he said.
Mabena said the computer lab would grow to benefit everyone in the community.
He said the facility is the future of children of Mamelodi and therefore it was the responsibility of the community to take care of it to prevent its vandalism.
He thanked Wefelmeier for his help in growing the facility, creating job opportunities especially for people living with disabilities.
Mamelodi Square, which boasts a variety of tenants including Shoprite, Clicks, Capitec, FNB, Shoprite Liquor, Pick n Pay Clothing, Power Fashion, John Craig, Studio 88 and KFC, will host its grand opening on Thursday, October 27.
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