POLOKWANE – This was revealed by Sun Meropa General Manager, Peter Guthrie, during the official opening of the hospitality class at Mothimako Secondary School in Makotopong last Thursday.
Guthrie said their employees have spent countless hours getting schools and community education centres working on the development and enhancement of the valued and most treasured sector of society.
“It would not have been possible or as cost effective without the assistance of needed labour from the Department of Correctional Services,” Guthrie said.
“Our renovation programme is focused on upgrading hospitality classrooms at schools situated in underprivileged communities to better equip learners who wish to pursue a career in the hospitality sector.”
He added that while Sun International as a group has embarked on a programme to assist 100 schools, Sun Meropa plans to help 10 schools in Limpopo to benefit from their future strategy.
Education MEC, Ishmael Kgetjepe, said his department is working hard on the programme which aims to improve the lives of all South Africans.
“Unemployment, inequality and poverty are some of the challenges plaguing South Africa, challenges we believe can be overcome through the power of education,” Kgetjepe said.
He urged the community to keep their children’s future in mind and not take them out of schools or damage education facilities when they are unhappy about service delivery from government.
“These children are the future leaders of our country and keeping them from their education or attacking them when the community protests over service delivery means you are shattering their goals and dreams instead of helping them get an education so they can make our country prosper,” he said.
Mothimako High School Principal, Paulus Manabile, said the hospitality class will play a huge role towards helping the learners explore their options in the hospitality industry by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and experience.
“We are hopeful that this new class will help to upgrade the educational standard for our learners when compared to other Model C schools. Through this, we promise to do our best to produce quality results and help improve our community,” Manabile said.
The new hospitality class at Mothimako High School is fitted with a zinc, kitchen scheme, a table top, two refrigerators, five microwave ovens and 11 stoves.
