THE Mpumalanga Public Works Member of the Executive Council (MEC) Mohita Latchminarain has urged pupils and residents to protect their new school from vandalism.
Latchminarain was speaking at the official handover of Shabalala Secondary School, outside Hazyview in Mpumalanga, on Tuesday, 2 August.
The new school block consists of 26 classrooms, an admin block, reception area, school hall, media centre, science laboratory, library and toilets. It has 1 205 pupils from grade 8 to 11 and 36 teachers. Latchminarain said: “We encourage the public and pupils to take care of the infrastructure and to guard it against vandalism, to protect what they have as the legacy of their children as well..
“We would like to show appreciation to the community for working hand-in-hand with the contractor to ensure this state-of-the-art infrastructure was delivered within the specified time frame.”
“We understand the importance of education as it touched the heart of tata Madiba, especially in these rural areas. Today, through the ANC-led government, we are able to open clinics, hospitals and schools in underprivileged areas.”
Excited pupil, Unathi Mabunda, said they were happy and honoured to have the school.
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“We promise to take care of it and to make sure we don’t disappoint.
“We are trying by all means to keep our school safe We have Soul Buddies and security making sure it’s taken care of,” she said.
Mbombela Mayor Sibongile Makhushe also attended the handover ceremony and asked the community to guard the school.
“We request from this community that whenever there’s a service delivery protest, they must not burn down our schools,” she said.
