South Deep to help schools farm
It's said food insecurity and high poverty levels are a worrisome reality in most communities in the local municipality.
GoldFields Limited’s South Deep mine and the South Deep Education Trust are committed to supporting nutrition and food security in Rand West City.
They are to help communities through a range of programmes including the provision of vegetable gardens to local schools.
Alex Khumalo, chairperson of the South Deep Education Trust said food insecurity and high poverty levels are a worrisome reality in most communities in the local municipality.
“Poor socio-economic conditions in our communities make it imperative that children are given healthy meals at schools. The South Deep Education Trust has decided to support initiatives that are aimed not only at improving nutrition at our schools, but also at empowering our schools and communities to strive towards self-sufficiency,”Alex said.
He said the National Department of Education has been running school nutrition programmes at most schools in the Rand West City Local Municipality.
These programmes have not only provided much needed nutrition to pupils but have also resulted in increased school attendance, declining drop-out rates and improved learning abilities among learners.
Puseletso Matete, Head of Sustainable Development and Environment at South Deep, said:”The vegetable gardens will focus on increasing the nutritional quality of the daily meals, as well as providing vegetables to households in need. The schools will manage the project while South Deep will provide funding and closely monitor the impact.”
Matete said the programme will start with four schools namely Kgothalang and Simunye secondary schools in Bekkersdal, TM Letlhake Secondary in Simunye and Thusa-Setshaba Secondary in Poortjie.
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