Maponya Mall and its tenants, suppliers and employees went to Nandi Primary School to renovate and refurbish it in celebrating Mandela day.
Renovations included upgrades to the sickroom, the waiting area, and the kitchen. The Grade RR classrooms were fitted with new heaters.
The refurbishing of the school was sponsored by Maponya Mall shopping centre, Pick and pay, McDonalds, Spur, Boston Media House, Metropolitan and other tenants of the mall
Richard Maponya the founder of Maponya mall joined the celebration and the cutting of the cake. He said, “Today is a great day, we just want to show the kids that we believe in them.”
Over 70 people attended the unveiling of the new facilities in the school including Linda Sokhulu from Isidingo, Sindi Buthelezi from Generations and Morgan Good from Kaizer Chiefs.
The marketing manager of Maponya mall, Pertunia Tsotetsi said, “In furthering Madiba’s rich legacy and ambitions for the children of South Africa, we decided to join the nation by dedicating 67 minutes to honour Mandela by giving to the less fortunate.”
Tsotetsi said they fell in love with the primary school because some of the pupils survive on only one meal a day from the feeding scheme.
The principal of the school Frans Chiloane said, “It is cardinal that children do not forget about Mandela’s legacy which made it possible for our freedom.”
Chiloane said that is why they’ve invited people to give pupils from the poor hostel dreams, visions and options for their future.
Visitors played games with the pupils and helped create a hand painted canvas for the school while the Virgin mobile gym hosted a 67 minutes aerobic marathon to add fun to the celebration.
Tsotetsi concluded that “This was a small way in which we are giving back to the community and a gesture of care, now they have access to a range of new facilities to meet their learning needs.”
