With most students still unable to attend school after months of no or limited learning, education has been one of the most hard-hit sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mining innovator and South Africa’s leading resources company, Exxaro, has responded to this dire situation with a drive to empower young minds through school donations.
The mining group recently donated R500 000 to Magukubjane Senior Secondary School, based in Magukubjane Village in the Sekhukhune District of Limpopo. The school was severely damaged by a storm in 2015 and left with dilapidated buildings. Former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr Zokwana approached Exxaro in 2018 for funding on behalf of the school.
Having opened its doors in 1984, the educational establishment has always had a shortage of classrooms. Due to the relentless spirit of the Magukubjane community, parents erected a block of classrooms, but without professional building materials, they started to deteriorate.
Yet, the school continued without adequate facilities, determined to continue teaching despite safety risks and an unconducive learning environment. To make matters worse, when the school was struck by the storm, learners were forced to sit in classrooms without roofs or in combined classes during bad weather.
“I would like to thank Exxaro for assisting us in renovating our school. It has been amazing to see the school go from dilapidated to safe and secure for our learners,” said Grace Ngoasheng, Principal at Magukubjane Senior Secondary School.
“We hope that everyone involved in this project is greatly rewarded as they have truly embodied the spirit of our nation’s father, Tata Madiba,” she added.
In February 2020, the school received Exxaro’s generous donation, and renovations started immediately. Today, the classrooms are fully renovated with proper roofs, ceilings, and doors, enabling improved and safer learning for the community’s students and teachers.
The school donation marks one of the many ways Exxaro is investing in education and giving back to their host communities. In 2019, alone, the mining group spent a total of R28.23 million on education initiatives, including the sponsorship of university research chairs, academic programmes, and infrastructure development for basic education.
“At Exxaro, we are committed to leaving a legacy for our communities through education. We aim to empower, upskill, and develop South Africans from a school-going age, thereby ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come,” concludes Mzila Mthenjane, Executive Head of Stakeholder Affairs at Exxaro