South Africa’s leading construction company and building materials producer,AfriSam, donated 90 pairs of school shoes to disadvantaged learners at the Ikokobetseng Primary School in Bophelong, Vanderbijlpark, near Johannesburg on Tuesday, 5 April 2022.
David Labuschagne is AfriSam’s Vanderbijlpark plant manager and has been overseeing operations there since 2013.
He says education is one of the company’s key focus areas. Investing in education is critical for AfriSam because it links to the development of future skills for the company.
“Previously, AfriSam installed a Jojo tank at Emfuleni Primary School. We have also held a blanket drive and delivered food parcels and stationery to communities near the plant on previous occasions,” said Labuschagne.
Parents, teachers and children of the Ikokobetseng Primary School were thrilled at the donation.
The school liesin the midst of low-cost housing. Some learners come from childheaded households, single-parent families and/or unemployed parents.Mr Mokoena is the school principal. He said the donation would go a long way
because it would boost the confidence of those learners in need of shoes. It will also help to relieve the financial burdens of parents who don’t have to buy school shoes and can use that money for food and other essentials.
“We are confident that uniformity will be enhanced at the school,” said Mokoena.“The donation will restore the learners’ confidence, discipline and sense of belonging. We hope this kind gesture will also increase their concentration sothey can focus on schoolwork and improve their performance.”
Although he was grateful for the generous donation, he said the school still needed more help.Labuschagne said the company’s values of people, planet and performance
represent AfriSam’s commitment and responsibility to communities.
“We are dedicated to delivering impactful socio-economic development
initiatives in the communities where we operate. We see this as a chance to
improve the quality of life and to create a legacy for future generations,” he
added.