Sibanye-Stillwater builds woodwork center at Itumeleng LSEN School
This is part of Sibanye-Stillwater's Corporate Social Investment and is aimed at making sure that they develop and empower the local communities they operate in.
There was a hive of activity at Itumeleng LSEN School in Westonaria after officials from Sibanye-Stillwater and other relevant stakeholders were present to hand over a woodwork center that the mining house has built for the school.
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This was on Wednesday, April 26 at the school premises where the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) and the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) representatives were also present.
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Speaking at the event, Sibanye-Stillwater vice president for Social Sustainability Sibongile Zikalala said this was part of their Corporate Social Investment (CSI) and that education takes top priority in that regard. She added that theirs was also to empower locals in the communities they operate in.
“We decided to do this project not just to make sure that our mines where we operate are safe, but we also want to make sure we develop and empower the local community. We have demonstrated that here today by helping and refurbishing the school, and also providing the necessary infrastructure that is required by this school.
“Our core purpose as Sibanye-Stillwater is to improve lives through various platforms. We employ people [some of them reside in this community] and some of them their children attend this school.
“For that reason, we are contributing to changing people’s lives and we are also committed to education, which is a number one priority in our strategy for the CSI. We want this school to get to the level where the children who come here benefit. The artisan skill that this school is offering is a much-needed skill in the country.”
The school’s principal Suzan Motlhabane during her address expressed extreme gratitude for the work done at the school.
“This is a day to say thank you. The impact that this gesture will have on the lives of these learners with special needs is immeasurable. We know that the woodwork center will break the cycle of stigma and poverty, and will bring food to the table of many, as well as result in a bright future when they exit the school.
“With this donation, our learners will be able to gain skills and expand their knowledge after exiting the school to sustain themselves,” said Mothlabane.
She added that this will help them be employed or create employment once they leave the schooling system.
Motlhabane also advocated for the woodwork designs that the learners have created and urged those present and the community to place orders for the items, to empower the learners.
She said that this support must also be shown to other learners at the school who take part in baking delicious cakes.
