THE Nelson Mandela Foundation in partnership with its sponsors officially handed over ablution facilities, computers, stationery and telephones to Moime Primary School in Moime village in Tzaneen on Thursday.
The school was also connected to the Internet.
The donation of 20 toilets, three computers, Internet connectivity, 300 stationery packs and a telephone connection for the school was made possible by Vodacom through its Change the World volunteer programme, Amalooloo and RTT Intelligent Logistics.
According to the principal, Pinny Malema, they approached the Nelson Mandela Foundation to assist the school, which caters for children from poor families.
Malema said the dilapidated, unhygienic and unsafe conditions of the school’s toilets prompted Alta Brown, a Vodacom Change the World volunteer at the Nelson Mandela Foundatio to intervene.
Brown had visited the school to investigate the possible placement of a library at the school, which led to the discovery of the terrible condition of the school’s sanitation facilities.
“The inspection of the toilets revealed grim and shocking conditions, even showing that toilets were home to snakes, adding to the already alarming issues of sanitation,” said Brown.
Brown decided that before embarking on the library project, the lack of access to sanitation had to be addressed.
She began the process of securing a donation of toilets for the school, and as a result, 20 toilets to the value of R120 000 were installed by Amalooloo.
“This project will not only provide improved hygiene, but will also help restore dignity to the learners.
The new toilets will eliminate sanitation-related diseases and provide hand-washing facilities with soap under running water,” said Brown.
Malema thanked the sponsors for the donations and said most learners were from indigent families which could not afford to pay for the things needed at the school.
The Greater Tzaneen mayor, Dikeledi Mmetle thanked the sponsors for the donation and said a government and private business partnership was needed to overcome service delivery challenges.
