The need for a better infrastructure at the Kathu College received convincing response from the Kathu Solar Park and Kumba’s Anglo American company.

The clarion call was initiated by the college to individual organisations but the two came together with the solution. On September 06, 2018 there was an official opening of five classrooms and a professional kitchen, courtesy of a joint venture between Kathu Solar Park and Anglo American.

The Anglo American mining giant, after having been approached by the college authorities, endorsed the idea for the addition of five classrooms and the proposal for the establishment of a professional kitchen to cater for the training of cooks of a high calibre by the college with two educational programmes introduced concurrently. Anglo American approached the Kathu Solar Park authorities for a partnership in the required developments at the college.

The college has introduced cookery and a Bachelor of Education degree in partnership with the North West University.

The cafeteria was revamped to enable it to accommodate cookery students as well as to expedite the introduction of the degree programme.

According to the community liaison officer of Kathu Solar Park, Jesmien Wapad, when Faith Masuku from Anglo American brought the idea of the joint venture between the two in meeting the genuine needs of the college, the organisation felt obliged to commit itself.

After completion of the structure, the two extended their generosity by buying the necessary stationery, including the supply of desks, computers and other accessories.

The college further had its external features improved with Kumani Iron Ore funding the removal of the asbestos pipes that were deemed a health risk by students. Speaking at the occasion, the Campus Manager Thabo Mogapo said that the contribution by the private sector towards improvement of education was significant and an overdue response to solving the skills shortage in the district and country as a whole.