Page 46 - 25 Reasons

By Alison Visser
ans Masibe Primary School is situated
in a village called Ga-Masenya in
HLimpopo, a stone’s throw away from
the Anglo American Platinum Mogalakwena
open-pit mine.
It is a neat face-brick school that boasts
beautiful gardens – including a thriving
vegetable garden – Wi-Fi and modern ablution
blocks, and it is a source of pride for principal
Peter Mkhabela, who has worked hard to ensure
that the facilities have been maintained. Often,
parents and volunteers help out with cleaning,
he says.
The school also asks parents to donate R2 a
week for cleaning supplies, but not all parents are
able to make this contribution – the 467 pupils
come from mostly disadvantaged backgrounds.
In 2002 the education department rebuilt Hans
Masibe after it was hit by a tornado. Until late last
year, the school had no flushing toilets – they
were the “Enviro Loo” kind, a waterless toilet
system that, Mkhabela says, “worked okay” but The school’s new ablution blocks ensure the learners are safe and their right to privacy
was nothing like the system they have now. is respected
“Anglo American Platinum initially approached
FLUSH
the school to find out about the challenges that
the school was facing and what they could do to
help,” says Mkhabela. FLUSH
One aspect of the company’s involvement was
the conversion to flush toilets in three of the
school’s five ablution blocks. But these are no
ordinary toilets. Firstly, stainless steel cisterns were WITH POSSIBILITIES
installed to ensure longevity. Secondly, the
sanitation system consists of a special septic
dignity and equality”, and Mkhabela is proud to ‘‘
design to organically break down the effluent
and ensure no contamination, then it removes
the toxins and allows the grey water to be used
for the vegetable garden.
During the launch of the Sanitation
Appropriate for Education (SAFE) Initiative in
We are pleased to have
November 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa called
on the private sector to help “build a new society
been able to assist the
founded on the principles of justice, respect,
say that his school is living these principles. schools to find a solution to
Selaelo Ralefeta, a circuit manager in the the safety issue that the
department of basic education, says they had
been trying to figure out how to convert them previous pit latrines posed
into ones that flushed, but it was the support and be part of a more
from Anglo American that made it happen.
Ralefeta says there are 34 schools in the circuit sustainable solution
and, so far, five have flushing toilets. Hans Masibe Principal Peter Mkhabela
is located in a village where there is no shortage
of water, but not all schools are this fortunate. companies have a social responsibility to give sustainable solution and were able to assist the
“Anglo American also implemented its back to the communities in which they operate,” schools to find a solution to the safety issue that
sanitation project in two other schools, Mphunye she says. the previous pit latrines posed.”
Secondary and Jan Malebana Primary in the And Anglo American has done more than that Hans Masibe has received other help from the
village of Armoede, which are within the same – it is committed to finding new approaches to company. It is running a project called Lighting
Mapela region as Hans Masibe,” Ralefeta says. achieve long-term and sustainable development Tomorrow at the school, which focuses on “moral
These schools were relocated by Anglo opportunities in the regions around its regeneration to help learners with behavioural
American Platinum because the company wanted operations. This is a key pillar in the company’s problems”.
to use their previous locations for mining, but Sustainable Mining Plan. It has also provided workshops for teachers,
“the two schools are located in an area where Seara Mkhabela, executive head of corporate where they are trained to deal with learners and
there is a shortage of water”. affairs at Anglo American Platinum, says: “Our improve their skills. The company has assigned
Ralefeta says that, while this conversion was an Sustainable Mining Plan highlights the five tutors to help learners with schoolwork. The
improvement for the schools’ infrastructure, the importance of keeping people and the tutors handle two grades a day.
department was in talks with Anglo American environment safe, and of using collaborative “We are grateful for what Anglo American has
regarding the issue of water scarcity before the regional development to provide sustainable done for our school, especially when it comes to
conversion continues at other schools. benefits for host communities. improving learners’ performance,” says the
“According to the Mining Charter, mining “We are pleased to have been part of a more principal.
46 ANGLO AMERICAN 25 REASONS TO BELIEVE