Ford South Africa joined the Gift of the Givers Foundation in commemorating the completion of newly constructed classrooms and extensive renovations to existing infrastructure at the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom School, located in Mamelodi, Pretoria.
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.
The global filtration manufacturer MANN+HUMMEL has announced a donation of R100 000 to the non-profit organisation Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA) to fund its projects that tackle key environmental issues, including food security, urban greening, and environmental sustainability.
Foton South Africa has extended its bakkie-offering in South Africa with the recent launch of two ranges at the top-end of the line-up.
With refreshed styling, an advanced user experience, updated design details and enhanced comfort, Volvo’s best-selling model has received upgrades that bring it in line with the manufacturer’s growing line-up of electric vehicles.
Advertisement
Advertisement
You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
Unknown
The global filtration manufacturer MANN+HUMMEL has announced a donation of R100 000 to the non-profit organisation Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA) to fund its projects that tackle key environmental issues, including food security, urban greening, and environmental sustainability.
Volkswagen Group has delayed signing off on its multi-billion-euro investment programme, according to reports from German daily Bild.
As global industries face mounting pressure to meet rising demands for innovation, sustainability and meaningful economic contributions, Rosslyn, located north-west of Pretoria, is emerging as a transformative manufacturing hub within South Africa’s automotive landscape.
