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 » Recommended » Page 3

SAPS seek identification after two fatal accidents rock Kariega

Police are seeking the public’s help to identify two men killed in separate Kariega accidents on Wednesday evening.

UD Express

|

15 Jun 2026
R30,000 reward offered for information on person of interest

The SAPS in the Eastern Cape has offered a R30 000 reward for information on person of interest Donovan Williams.

UD Express

|

12 Jun 2026
12-year-old girl fatally struck by taxi as driver cooperates with police

Yalinka Senekal, 12, was fatally struck by a taxi on Cuyler Street Bridge in Kariega, prompting a culpable homicide investigation.

UD Express

|

12 Jun 2026
Youth Rising Festival aims to empower, inspire young talent

The Youth Rising Festival 2026 in Kariega celebrates youth talent and empowerment to honor Junior King, fostering creativity and community involvement.

Shanti Jafta

|

5 Jun 2026
MEC dismisses food poisoning allegations against foreign nationals

MEC Nqatha has assured Eastern Cape citizens that no food poisoning incidents have been reported, cautioning against the spread of misinformation.

Source:

UD Express (Uitenhage)

|

5 Jun 2026
Police investigate murder after woman shot multiple times at Despatch home

SAPS Despatch have opened a murder case after a woman was shot dead at the gate of her home.

UD Express

|

27 May 2026
Afri-Save rallies again as flooding devastates communities

Afri-Save CEO Munir Jeeva mobilises aid for flood victims, providing food, resources, and support to restore dignity in the community.

Shanti Jafta

|

22 May 2026
Despatch police appeal for witnesses in R75 hit-and-run incident

Police are urging witnesses to come forward after a man was struck by a white VW Polo on the R75.

UD Express

|

22 May 2026
SAPS KwaDwesi, partners unite to empower youth in Child Protection Month outreach

SAPS KwaDwesi hosted a Child Protection Month outreach programme under the 2026 theme ‘Working Together in Ending Violence Against Children.’

PE Express

|

19 May 2026
Ngcobo police probe murder of woman accused of witchcraft

The elderly victim, Nokhansala Sidiki, was accused of witchcraft, assaulted with a plank, and subsequently drowned in a nearby stream.

PE Express

|

18 May 2026