BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE newly-built school at Manthe village in Taung was officially opened on Tuesday. The school was built by Anglo American mining company after the dilapidation school was demolished and built from sketchy.

The renovated Manthe Primary School was a social responsibility for the rural area in Manthe village under Ba-ga Maidi Tribal Authority.

The department of Education and Sport Development in North West, Elias Malindi said the renovations cost the mining giant over R23 million, and he said that 474 learners were given a brand new pair of school shoes and school bags. Malindi further added that the mining giant extended their giving hand by donating customised wheelchairs to two learners.

“Excited community members, parents, various stakeholders, representatives from the Minerals and Energy department including government officials were part of the event,” Malindi said.

Anglo American CEO, Chris Griffith said:  “The future of our kids is at the centre of our social and labour plans. We will continue to focus on education as a key priority in line with the National Development Plan (NDP). If our children are educated, we will see more leaders like Nelson Mandela emerge from our communities.”

Superintendent-General of the North West Department of Education and Sport Development, Dr I.S Molale encouraged villagers to look after their infrastructure and told Anglo American employees that the department was pleased by this generous gesture.

“Manthe primary school is an all-inclusive school which also accommodates physically disabled, moderate mental and deaf learners. The school has trained remedial educators including an educator who is fully trained in sign language,” Molale said.

“This facility also boasted a state of the art water reticulation facility and sports complex. Anglo American also pledged that they will continue to work with other communities and stakeholders to further education and training,”

-TDN

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