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 » Top » Page 25

Top

US fugitive to remain in custody at St Albans as extradition process begins

Alleged US fugitive Robert Lee Redd Jr remains in custody as extradition proceedings continue in Gqeberha court, postponed to 3 June for consultations.

Source:

Gugulethu Mtumane

|

29 May 2026
Three hundred Ghanaians repatriated as xenophobic tensions grip South Africa

The Border Management Authority has processed 295 Ghanaian nationals for repatriation amid escalating anti-migrant protests threatening to paralyse the country at the end of June.

Source:

Lise Beyers

|

29 May 2026
Undocumented Lesotho national handed two life sentences for Komani double murder

An undocumented Lesotho national has been sentenced to two life terms for the brutal murders of a farmworker and farm co-owner in Komani.

Source:

UD Express (Uitenhage)

|

29 May 2026
Concerns mount over ‘under-resourced’ NMB Metro Police

Nelson Mandela Bay’s Metro Police faces a serious operational crisis with only four vehicles available, prompting calls for significant department expansion.

Shanti Jafta

|

29 May 2026
Death of JBay businessman sees charge upgraded to culpable homicide

Jeffreys Bay businessman Pirow Viljoen (83) has died following a motor vehicle accident on 23 May, with charges now set to be upgraded to culpable homicide.

Source:

UD Express (Uitenhage)

|

28 May 2026
‘Forgotten’ Tiryville residents have to dig for water

Tiryville residents are struggling with severe water outages since February, lacking communication from their councillor and facing health risks.

Shanti Jafta

|

28 May 2026
Four teenagers shot dead, one wounded in Motherwell mass shooting

Four teenagers were shot dead and one left injured at a Motherwell house, with police saying the motive remains unknown.

UD Express (Uitenhage)

|

28 May 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 after decapitated woman found behind KwaNojoli hospital

KwaNojoli police have launched a murder investigation after the decapitated body of an unidentified woman was found in a field near Andries Vosloo Hospital.

Source:

UD Express (Uitenhage)

|

27 May 2026
Dana Spicer retrenchments spark strikes, economic alarm in the Bay

Retrenchments at Dana Spicer Axle in Nelson Mandela Bay prompt strikes, highlighting severe declines in manufacturing jobs and economic concerns.

Shanti Jafta

|

25 May 2026