As a public secondary school, Solomon Mahlangu Freedom School is dedicated to the memory of Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu, honouring his courage and commitment to South Africa as a freedom fighter. He was a military hero in the country’s liberation movement and remains an iconic figure in Mamelodi to this day.

Ford South Africa recently provided a grant of more than R4-million to Gift of the Givers for the project to enhance the academic experience for both learners and teachers at the school. The funding facilitated the renovation of 36 classrooms and bathroom facilities, and much-needed upgrades to the plumbing and electrical systems, which had deteriorated over time.

Owing to its rapid growth, the school infrastructure had become insufficient for the 1 574 learners attending the school. To address this, four additional classrooms were constructed, with the new block dubbed the Ford wing.

“Over the years, our intake of children has increased tremendously and now far exceeds the number of learners the school was designed to accommodate, leading to an overcrowding crisis. Through the generosity of Ford and Gift of the Givers, we’ve been able to alleviate our space constraints, which will contribute to a much-improved educational experience,” says Mrs JT Zikhali, principal of Solomon Mahlangu Freedom School.

“We especially look forward to being able to make effective use of our laboratories for Physical Science and Life Science practical studies. Our labs and the library were previously used as classrooms to accommodate students,” she says.

Community empowerment was also a fundamental aspect of the project, with Gift of the Givers ensuring that contractors from the Mamelodi community were part of the construction and renovation project. “Through Ford’s grant, our foundation partnered with reputable contractors from the community to leverage on combined expertise for mutual benefit,” says Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers.

“Our CSR initiatives address social issues that are most pressing in the communities in which Ford operates. Education is one of our key pillars, as it’s an essential tool for economic empowerment and upliftment,” says Neale Hill, president of Ford Motor Company Africa.