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 » SAPS

SAPS

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
One of Gqeberha’s most wanted fugitives arrested after months on the run

South African Police arrested Donovan “Poenie” Williams for serious crimes, following a public appeal offering a reward for information.

UD Express

|

12 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
Families demand answers in missing men cases

Families of Quinton Plaatjies and Loay Khayat seek answers regarding their disappearances, criticising police investigation efforts for accountability.

Shanti Jafta

|

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
Senior SAPS official dismissed for associating with known criminal

SAPS has confirmed the dismissal of Major General Richard Shibiri, the former Component Head for Organised Crime.

Source:

Staff Reporter

|

5 Jun 2026
Despatch SAPS appeal for information on murdered woman in Khayamnandi

Despatch detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify an unknown woman, approximately 30, found murdered in the Khayamnandi area.

UD Express

|

5 Jun 2026
Youth Month spotlight on SAPS drone operator Siphosethu Tyuwa

SAPS marks Youth Month by highlighting Siphosethu Tyuwa, a drone operator in the Eastern Cape, who assists with surveillance, intelligence and search-and-rescue operations.

Source:

Reporter

|

2 Jun 2026
Two bodies recovered from Gqeberha beachfront in tragic day of drownings

The Gqeberha coastline became the scene of tragedy on 25 May, as SAPS responded to two drowning incidents that claimed the lives of two young men.

Source:

UD Express (Uitenhage)

|

27 May 2026
Murder probe launched after two men found shot dead in Despatch house

SAPS investigate murder incident after two men were found shot dead inside a Despatch house, while a 27-year-old woman was wounded in her hand.

UD Express

|

27 May 2026