‘Paul Harris’ award for Groenewald and Cox

MOKOPANE – Ockert Groenewald, Principal of the Mokopane Primary School, and Richard Cox, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Mogalakwena Platinum Mine, were honoured with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award from the Potgietersrus Rotary Club on 19 August.

Richard Cox

“Cox was given the award in recognition of the mine’s contribution to the community development. The mine can be described as a mayor player involved in the community projects aimed specifically, in what are classified, as deep rural areas. Over the last four years the mine has been a major contributor in donating funds for Rotary community projects notably in the field of education and health. This award, in part, is in recognition of the Mogalakwena mine’s commitment to the community development for more than 10 years,” Fagan said.

Ockert Groenewald

“Groenewald has been awarded for his dedication in education, starting as a primary school teacher in 1965 and playing a big role during the transition phase in an attempt to neutralise the confrontational situation at the previously Potgietersrus Laerskool. The school was renamed to Mokopane Primary School in 2014.

“Since Groenewald was appointed as Principal in 2013, the improvement in the school’s infrastructure, teaching standards and childrens’ discipline has been astonishing. We monitored the school’s operation before selecting it to be a recipient of books for the library in 2014 provided by the Rotary Humanitarian Centre. On receiving the books, Groenewald sent staff and school library students to the local public library to be trained in library management. He is honoured for his strong dedication to education,” Fagan concluded.

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