South32 South Africa Manganese and the Department of Education on 30 November 2018 launched the second phase of a major improvement project at Rearata Primary School, situated in the rural area of the John Taolo Gaetsewe district.
The second phase of the project will see the development of a school complex with the construction set to provide development opportunities for local businesses and temporary employment for 20 community members.
Phase one of the project, which was completed in 2016, involved the removal of asbestos from classrooms.
South32 will contribute R21.2-million for the construction of the complex, which includes two classrooms, a media centre with a computer laboratory and a library, as well as administration, kitchen and ablution blocks. The Department of Education will finance the construction of five additional classrooms.
South32’s Vice President Operations South Africa Manganese, Lucas Msimanga, said South32 was committed to improving the lives of people in its host communities.
“Education is at the core of our community investment strategy,” Mr Msimanga said.
“Early education is critical in a student’s overall academic performance, so we are very pleased to be creating an environment at Rearata Primary School that is more conducive to learning.”
Located in the village of Vergenoeg, the primary school is about 40km from South32’s Hotazel Manganese Mines and located in the Ga-Segonyana local municipality of the John Taolo Gaetsewe district municipality. The district has been declared as one of the presidential poverty nodes.
Ga-Segonyana’s mayor, Councillor Neo Masegela, said “As a rural school, it is critical that it is equipped with the necessary resources to give our learners the best chances of success in the 21st century’s education system and workplace. Our aim is to ensure that all rural school learners pass with the skills they need for university, careers and life and this investment in our school will help us to achieve our goal.”
A contractor from the JTG community has been appointed to complete the construction of the complex.
South32 communication
