Excitement was evident on the faces of staff members and learners at Vuzamanzi Primary school in Site C in Khayelitsha at the opening of the new school lab today (Thursday 27 November). The computer lab was donated by the SA Hope organisation together with the Khayelitsha Police Station.
SA Hope is a non-profit organisation that strives to give hope to the less privileged in various ways. Gift Motshekga, a director of SA Hope, described the opening as the beginning of new things. He said the organisation works countrywide targeting schools in mostly disadvantaged areas, among other things, donating school uniforms and stationery
“Because of the challenges we see the schools facing whenever we visit we decided to change our donation focus and donate computers and other lab equipment. This is the first school of three we identified in the province, the others being Newton Primary in Wellington and Tafelsig Primary School in Mitchell’s Plain. We donated 21 computers, a printer, white board, overhead projector, screen, 40 chairs, two air conditioners and we tiled a floor.” Motshekga said SA Hope was targeting three schools per province on the understanding that future leader were being developed.
Khayelitsha Police Station acting commander Col Bambelela Ngxaki described the building of the lab as a great initiative. Protecting the school and its resources is inseparable from local police fulfilling their mandate in the community as whole, and urged schoolteachers to report any wrongdoing to the police station.
School principal Mcebisi Mnconywa praised SA Hope for its a good gesture; the computer lab meant a lot to the school, he said, and it would do its utmost to cherish and protect it.
“We live in a modern world where technology is central to everything, yet we didn’t have enough computers at school, with five or more learners to one computer. At least now this number will be reduced to two per computer, which is so much better for learning.”
Ward 87 councillor Khayalethu Kama praised SA Hope for its great initiative. He urged the learners to use the computers wisely. “As community members we will try to protect not only the school but the community as a whole. Our priority is to ensure service delivery to the community. Today we express our gratitude to SA Hope for what it has done for our school.”
