New, safe toilets for rural school after pupil’s tragic death
Provincial government and MTN partnership set to make huge difference
Luna Primary School in the village of Mbizana, where fiveyear-old Lumka Mkhethwa tragically drowned in a pit toilet earlier this year, has brand new and safe toilets, along with a filtering system to supply the school with fresh water.
This was done on Friday as part of a joint project initiated by the MTN SA Foundation in partnership with the provincial office of the premier and the department of education.
Jacqui O’Sullivan, executive for corporate affairs at MTN SA, said the foundation was committed to making a meaningful contribution to the communities where they operated, and to making a real and lasting difference in the lives of children.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa made the Thuma Mina call in his state of the nation address, where he encouraged South Africans to become active agents in addressing basic services while working with government.
“MTN’s partnership with the Eastern Cape’s department of education is evidence of the value that can be added through public and private partnerships and how together, we can bring about meaningful change in the lives of South Africans,” said O’Sullivan.
According to the department of education, 37 out of the 5,359 schools in the Eastern Cape do not have any formal ablution facilities, while pit toilets are the sole form of sanitation for 1,426 schools in the province.
During Mandela Month in addition to the sanitation facilities, the foundation contributed a borehole, three new compujectors – computers with built in projectors – and 736 pairs of school shoes to Luna Primary which will assist in improving the quality of learning and teaching at the school.
“These contributions combined will go a long way towards improving the overall wellbeing of these kids, and providing a better environment for learning. The computer facilities will bring these children closer to the tools needed in today’s digital world,” said O’Sullivan.
The official handover ceremony on Friday, which formed part of the centenary celebration of global icon Nelson Mandela, was carried out by Eastern Cape premier, Phumulo Masualle and senior officials.
The foundation also handed over new ablution facilities to Chief Dumile Secondary School whose pupils and teachers were at the function to celebrate.
The foundation handed over bicycles to Luvuyo Lerumo High School, in nearby Komani for children who live far from school to use. The deal was done in partnership with the provincial department of roads and transport.
“Many children who live in remote parts of the country have to walk long distances to school every day. This tires the children and they then battle to concentrate in class. Our hope is that the 200 MTN bicycles handed over in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal will ease this problem,” O’Sullivan added.