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 51

Top

Father sentenced to life in jail for raping biological daughter

The Ladybrand Regional Court has sentenced a man (47) found guilty of raping his biological daughter. WO Mmako Mophiring confirmed the incident had happened when the child (8) visited her father.

Source:

Teboho Setena

|

11 Jul 2025
Former policeman sentenced to 15 years for 1987 anti-apartheid activist murder

he Pretoria High Court delivered a historic 15-year prison sentence today (10 July) to former policeman Johan Marais, for the 1987 murder of anti-apartheid activist Caiphus Nyoka.

Source:

Novus Media

|

10 Jul 2025
Facebook romance scammers steal R3.4 million from Western Cape woman

Two young men appeared in the Bellville Magistrates Court today (10 July) following their arrest for an elaborate Facebook romance scam.

Source:

Novus Media

|

10 Jul 2025
Young leopard dies after being caught in gin traps near Heidelberg

CapeNature confirmed the death of a young leopard following a call to assist in a rescue operation on 2 July in the Heidelberg area, near the World Heritage site Boosmansbos.

Source:

Hermanus Times

|

10 Jul 2025
Join the Pay It Forward Community Fund: Rucking for a Cause

Local student and Express correspondent Danielle Saayman is turning her experience of pain and loss after the death of her mother into a pay it forward campaign. Saayman, in collaboration…

Source:

PE Express

|

10 Jul 2025
Springboks are ready for Italy challenge in Gqeberha

Springboks players Manie Libbok and Marco van Staden shared their confident thoughts ahead of the crucial international test game against Italy at today’s media conference.

Source:

Shanti Jafta

|

9 Jul 2025
Cape Town Marathon sells out again as Africa eyes historic world Major status

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has once again sold out all 24 000 marathon entries for 2025, marking an unprecedented third consecutive year of complete sellouts.

Source:

Novus Media

|

9 Jul 2025
23 fatalities on Western Cape roads in just one week

The Western Cape Government has expressed deep concern over the alarming number of pedestrian fatalities and drunk driving arrests recorded during the past week.

Source:

Novus Media

|

9 Jul 2025
Minister klim in oor soektog na jong vrou wat vermis is

Dis al twee weke wat Murcia Kock vermis is, met geen teken van haar nie, ten spyte van soektoegte deur die gemeenskap en polisie.

Source:

Rónel van Jaarsveld

|

9 Jul 2025
Trump’s Trade Blow: 35 000 jobs on the line as US slaps heavy tariffs on exports

CAPE TOWN – South Africa is scrambling to negotiate a new trade deal with the United States after President Donald Trump announced punishing 30% tariffs on exports, threatening to destroy thousands…

Source:

AFP

|

9 Jul 2025