Page 37 - 100 years of Anglo American

he Cofimvaba Schools District
Technology Project is starting to
bear fruit in three schools that
are using hydrogen fuel cell
energy as a backup for their
Telectricity supply.
The project – a joint initiative by the
departments of science and technology, basic
education and the provincial education
department – has targeted schools in the
Eastern Cape district to pilot its effectiveness
in a bid to improve the quality of education in
rural schools.
The project also includes the installation and
provision of communication tools such as
unlimited WiFi, tablets and content servers for Lwando Rwayi, the principal of Arthur Mfebe Senior Secondary School, and Amahle Nduna,
the schools, which are underfunded and lack a Grade 12 pupil who has been inspired by the project
basic infrastructure.
To make sure that all these facilities
function without interruption, electricity No power, no
generated by the hydrogen fuel cells kicks in
and supplies power when there is an outage at
the school, so pupils continue to learn without
interruption. PROBLEM
Anglo American Platinum sponsored three
platinum-based fuel cell systems, which it
installed and continues to maintain.
A company called Air Products supplies the
hydrogen fuel requirements, while Clean Class disruptions a thing of the past as backup system
Energy Investments – a company co-owned by brings light to rural schools, writes Lubabalo Ngcukana
Anglo American Platinum and the department
of science and technology – commissioned the
fuel cells to bring backup power to Arthur not get a consistent power supply. school and using tablets that contain
Mfebe Senior Secondary School, and Mvuzo “But, after they installed the fuel cells as a educational apps.
and St Marks junior secondary schools. backup to take over when the power was off, “When there is a power outage, we do not
Lwando Rwayi, the principal at Arthur Mfebe we could continue with the business of the have to worry about exam papers being delayed
in St Marks Mission, Cofimvaba, which has 356 school uninterrupted. Even when the whole because the photocopy machine is not working
pupils from grades 8 to 12, says the school has village has no electricity, we remain – as was the case before. There is now always
benefited enormously from the project. functioning as a school, which means teaching electricity at school,” she says.
“We got 300 tablets for pupils. But our and learning can continue.” “Previously, if there was no electricity, people
challenge was that the electricity was Matric pupil Amahle Nduna (17) says the would have to go all the way to town to
unreliable,” he says. project has inspired her to study photocopy the papers, which caused lot of
“We also expanded the school, which meant electromechanical engineering next year. She delays. It will be great if this project can be
the power we had could not supply the loves physical science and maths, which are introduced at other schools as it has so many
demand. This situation meant that we could taught using the technology installed at the benefits.”

The nonracial school the company built

MSINDISI FENGU Nyasulu said the school started with about The children were equally academically
500 pupils from Grade 7 to Grade 12. talented, and bursaries for those who could
The legacy of a school in Durban that Anglo “It was a nonracial as opposed to a not afford fees were provided by Anglo
American helped build is continuing long multiracial school,” he said, adding that American and other donors.
after the institution shut its doors. multiracial schools were subjected to Anglo American also built the
Opened in 1987, Uthongathi-A apartheid laws that stipulated classrooms and boarding facilities on
New Era Trust School was one of what percentage of black and land provided by Tongaat Hulett.
the first interracial schools in white pupils could be Nyasulu said successful past
the country. It also had admitted to access pupils include University of Cape
boarding facilities that were government subsidies. Town politics lecturer Dr
shared by children of all races. The school, he said, Zwelethu Jolobe, architect
However, soon after 1994, the was the brainchild of Siya Mbanjwa, actor Ben
school was closed because its the New Era Schools Voss and SAA pilot
donors lacked funds. The property Trust. Marvin Oliver.
was bought by Crawford College “Its philosophy was
and has operated as Uthongathi Actor Ben Voss’ a 25% representation of
College since the late 1990s. alter ego, Beauty the population. We had
Then deputy principal and Ramapelepele Indian, coloured, white Dr Zwelethu Jolobe
history and isiZulu teacher Ricky PHOTO: FACEBOOK and black pupils,” he said. PHOTO: UCT
ANGLO AMERICAN 100 YEARS 37