De Beers funds school refurbishment

De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM) a member of the Anglo American Group, in partnership with Education MEC Ishmael Kgetjepe officially opened the expansion of Renaissance Secondary School in Musina last Thursday.
The expansion included the construction of 12 classrooms, the renovation of another four classrooms, a newly-built ablution facility and an administration block. This development is the result of a progressive partnership between the Department of Education and DBCM through the Rural School Development Programme which saw each partner contribute R6 million towards the expansion of the school which will allow the inclusion of a Grade 12 class not previously provided for.
The partnership has already constructed 12 schools in the province, including Ratanang Special School in Senwabarwana, Saint Martin de Porres in Musina and Malenkwane Primary School in Wegdraai village in the Blouberg area.
Through its social and labour plan De Beers Venetia Mine has invested R29 million in infrastructural development within education since the commencement of the Limpopo Rural Schools Project in 2006. By ensuring that South Africa’s largest producer of diamonds, Venetia Mine, operates responsibly and profitably, as one of seven of the world’s tier one mines, De Beers with its partners is making transformation real for thousands of South Africans, not just employees, but also communities and local suppliers.
Looking to the future, between the underground project launch in 2013 and until 2021, De Beers is investing R20 billion to transform the existing open pit mine into an innovative underground operation expected to be viable and sustainable beyond 2040.
“Investing in the education of the next generation is a sure-fire way to ensure that the legacy of mining lives on in mining communities. The expansion of this school will address overcrowding, assist with learners travelling long distances to access an education and improve the quality of education, sanitation and management for 791 young people, proving yet again that mining matters to the country of South Africa and to the communities associated with De Beers mines,” Corporate Affairs Manager, Josephine Pieters said at the handover event.

Featured Photo: Education MEC Ishmael Kgetjepe, education officials, educators and community leaders celebrate the unveiling of the plaque at Renaissance Secondary School after the school was refurbished.