Topic Menu:

JOHN Walton Secondary School was recently endowed with a study centre and sleeping quarters, where its matric learners can look forward to having two meals a day while they study for the year ahead.

The school received over R45 000 in sponsorship, both monetary and in-kind.

The KallaManie Benefit Foundation was established in memory of the late Manie ‘Kalla’ Daniels, who was a long-serving educator at John Walton. The Foundation, registered as a Non-Profit Company (NPC), donates all its proceeds to good causes. The late Daniels’ wife, Fredaline, nominated Jamie-Lee Daniels, Clinton Anderson, and Jeffrey du Preez as the Foundation’s founding directors.

The donation came in various forms, from local businesses such as the KallaManie Benefit Foundation donating R30 000, Score under Chill Beverages who donated R5 000, the JWSS Alumni Association donating R15 000, Buco Hardware Store, which donated building materials, as well as Andrew Rabie Secondary School and Ebrahim Wicomb who donated cutlery.

A current Grade 12 learner shared his heartfelt story about what the study centre would mean for him going into his matric year.

“My living conditions are not good because, during the day, I cannot study as there is too much noise around. We stay in a one-roomed flat in someone’s backyard. Sometimes, I have to study with a torch because the owner of the house switches off the electricity often, or sometimes there just is no electricity,” said the learner.

He added that he has a desire to learn, but his circumstances do not allow him to do so. This is why he believes that the study centre will be beneficial for him and other learners as well. “It will provide learners, such as me, with a safe and comfortable place to learn.”

The learner, filled with emotion, added, “I am grateful that I will now have a place to get valuable study time, as well as a guaranteed warm plate of food and breakfast the next day.”

The sleeping quarters were equipped with numerous bunk beds, which were assembled by the school’s wood-working department to limit costs. Deputy Principal Phillip Joseph added that they hope to receive more donations as there is still space to convert the adjacent classroom into another sleeping quarter. The current arrangement will alternate between housing boys one week and girls the next. Should there be more funding, it will give learners equal opportunities to benefit from it.

According to Joseph, a section of the school was converted into two sections: a study hall and sleeping quarters, which would accommodate approximately 20 learners both during the week and over the weekend for those in need.

“Learners who cannot study at home are encouraged to come to the school, where they will be provided with a meal and an opportunity to study among teachers. Having teachers around will give struggling learners an opportunity to ask questions should they get stuck,” Joseph added.

As a non-fee paying school receiving a subsidy from the Department of Education, the subsidy goes towards the school’s learning materials and staff salaries.

“Our school was meant to be a temporary structure (made of wood) in 1978. We were initially meant to move; however, that has not happened yet. So, we need money for the maintenance of the school as well,” Joseph said.

He added that the learners come from impoverished backgrounds, and in some cases, learners have additional challenges.

The Principal, Stephen de Bruin, said that the school moved from quintile 4 to quintile 3, which means that the learners are part of the government’s school feeding scheme.

“This initiative is important because some children who do not eat, do not have the energy to study throughout the day. This will eradicate that and give all learners an equal chance at succeeding in their studies,” De Bruin said.

He also added that the study centre will be a sanctuary for learners who cannot study at home, and that here will be security guards patrolling the premises to ensure that the learners are safe.

Joseph concluded, “The school calls on other businesses and able community members to assist them in providing larger sleeping quarters for its learners to help them achieve an even higher pass rate than last year’s 80.1%.”

Topic Menu:

Home » Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality » Page 4

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

NMBM rejects circulating rumours about contaminated water in Despatch

Residents in Despatch are advised to boil water due to E. coli detection, while the municipality assures water safety and combats misinformation.

UD Express

|

23 Apr 2026
Major wastewater plant upgrades near completion for Despatch residents

The Despatch Wastewater Treatment Works is 87.5% upgraded, now achieving 88% compliance, enhancing public health and environmental protection.

UD Express

|

23 Apr 2026
Business Chamber blames infrastructure neglect for water crisis

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber warns that the region’s water crisis stems from mismanagement and infrastructure neglect, not just drought, threatening economic stability and requiring urgent action.

UD Express

|

19 Mar 2026
Disaster funds redirected as Kariega infrastructure suffers

Kariega’s central business district faces severe neglect and infrastructure issues, prompting concerns over municipal accountability and the effective use of disaster relief funds amid rising local dissatisfaction.

Shanti Jafta

|

19 Mar 2026
Metro to prioritise water leaks amid drought

Residents of Kariega are frustrated with poor municipal service, particularly regarding persistent water leaks and potholes on busy streets, impacting daily life and safety.

Shanti Jafta

|

5 Mar 2026
Community project gains private sector partner

The Limekhaya Community Project in KwaLanga successfully delivered its first spinach batch to Spur, highlighting a partnership between community agriculture and local business, supported by the municipality.

UD Express

|

27 Feb 2026
McCarthy informal settlement electrification underway

The electrification of McCarthy Land is underway, with Phase 1 progressing in 2025/2026 to provide sustainable electricity and improve living conditions for residents.

Shanti Jafta

|

26 Feb 2026
NMBM conducts oversight at Kelvin Jones WWTW

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality invested R16 million in the Kelvin Jones Wastewater Treatment Plant, improving capacity, infrastructure, and reliability to support local industries and future growth.

UD Express

|

20 Feb 2026
AACL raises alarm over pound standards

The AACL raised major concerns about the welfare standards of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s animal pound, citing insufficient resources and care for admitted animals following Busy Bee’s takeover.

Shanti Jafta

|

19 Feb 2026
Severe weather warning issued for Bay as major storm system approaches

Municipality warns of flooding risk as cut-off low expected to bring heavy rainfall this weekend.

Source:

PE Express

|

7 Feb 2026