The renovation at this education facility was finalised on Monday, July 30, a month dedicated to honouring the memory of the international icon Nelson Mandela.
The pre-school received a major boost to its infrastructure when Cashbuild donated building material to the centre for its improvements.
The building material retailer took their assistance to the school a step further, contracting Meko and Sons, a Katlehong-based Construction Company, to carry out extensive work on the property.
The pre-school accommodates 120 children mainly from the poor background. It has been in existence since 1998.
Its infrastructure is dilapidated, and 80 per cent of the ablution facility is dysfunctional.
The extensive work included the installation of the palisade fence, repairing of ablution facilities and doing extensive painting work to the facility.
Head of community support initiatives at Cashbuild, Thembelani Tukwayo says the company takes great pride in being involved in such community projects.
“As a company, we believe in education and to date, we have spent well over R100-million to schools across South Africa mainly in areas where we trade. There is no better way to honour Mandela than to ensure that 120 children in this facility will learn in a proper facility with functioning toilets, a facility with a palisade fencing to protect the kids from harm coming from outside,” said Tukwayo. Community leader and founder of Phinda-Mzala, a local non-government organisation (NGO), David Mahlaba, coordinated the project on behalf of the community. He was elated that this project had become a reality.
“We are very happy as an organisation as this is going to benefit mostly the kids who are at this pre-school. We have been worried and concerned for a while now. Due to lack of funds, we have been unable to afford the material to refurbish this school. Remember that this school serves mostly the disadvantaged community, and it is often difficult to raise funds needed for such projects. We are prepared to form a partnership with private sector or individuals,” said Mahlaba.
He added that if people needed more information, they (Phinda-Mzala) may be contacted on info@phindamzala.org.
Tukwayo from Cashbuild was himself at Zizameleni on the day with employees from his company to assist with the renovations.
He added: “South Africa is going through many challenges. I think it’s important that as a corporate we are able to assist people who are working on improving the conditions of our community. We are happy that we were able to support this pre-school renovation project. As Cashbuild we see ourselves as a resident in communities where we trade. Our attitude is to take community issues to heart and this is our demonstration of that,” said Tukwayo.
