PMC to build a R12 million school

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22-04-2022
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Letaba Herald
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On Wednesday, April 13, the Palabora Mining Company (PMC) held a breaking ground ceremony for a soon to be built school in Mashishimale.

PMC in conjunction with the Leolo Community Trust has committed the 16-classroom school building project with an administration block and ablution facilities in one of its eight surrounding rural local communities of Mashishimale to the value in excess of R12 million.

The new school will be called Moshibutjana Primary School, named after one of the traditional leaders in the area.

The event was attended by stakeholders which included the MEC for Treasury, Seaparo Sekoati, who was also the main speaker.

“We believe that our future human resources will be sourced from the future academics from this school.

“PMC has committed to spend over R20 million on youth its development programme this year, offering 153 study bursaries to local learners, at recognised universities and institutions of higher learning, in a diversity of disciplines, not limiting support to mining related streams this year alone,” said PMC’s manager of transformation, stakeholder engagement and communications, Abby Ledwaba

“We will be reaping the benefits of this investment in future together with other employers both locally a nationally.”

He said the project will be implemented by four 100% black-owned upcoming local contractors.

A value chain for sub-contractors in the local community that will be supplying goods and services during construction have been created, Ledwala said.

There will also be temporary employment for local community members.

“The contract will benefit a number of local community members with varying expertise such as skilled, semi-skilled and elementary.

“The major benefit, with the Covid-19 disruption to the school programme, is that education will once again be fully functional as social distance for children in the local schools will no longer be a challenge where learners have to miss school due to space problems.

“There will be no reason for learners to travel distances for them to access education.”

The Department of Education is further likely to employ more educators for the school – creating employment.

“Building a school goes beyond solely creating learning opportunities for children or creating employment for educators.

“This initiative also supports socio-economic development (SED).

“It creates an opportunity for PMC to make a positive impact through sustainable infrastructure development within the jurisdiction of the Ba-Phalaborwa municipal area.

“It is anticipated that the construction will be completed by the end of October this year, and we have a strong conviction that the school will be ready for learners at the beginning of the 2023 school calendar year, concluded Ledwaba.