Against the backdrop of a looming water crisis in Nelson Mandela Bay, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has offered its assistance to various schools in the metro.
The company has partnered with the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber for its Adopt a School initiative, which has seen VWSA installing a total of 30 water tanks at 15 schools in KwaNobuhle and Despatch.
With support from Old Mutual, VWSA has supplied and installed two 5 000-litre tanks for each of the schools, which were also filled with water. This project, which concluded at the end of August, was implemented in response to a call from the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality that indicated KwaNobuhle could soon be without water. As VWSA is actively involved in this community through its literacy centres at five schools, the company stepped up and commenced the project.
Aside from the water tanks, VWSA has also assisted with plumbing repairs and upgrades of the ablution facilities at the five schools – namely Ntlemeza Primary, James Ntungwana Primary, Vuba Primary, Noninzi Luzipho Primary and Mngcunube Primary – where its literacy centres are based. These repairs included fixing water leaks, replacing taps, basins and toilet seats, as well as deep cleaning.
The company has done its part to minimise the use of resources, including water, for the past 15 years. Between 2010 and 2020 the company reduced its use of water by 66%, and the company continues to investigate other ways to ensure the efficient and responsible use of natural resources.
“This particular project aligns with our role as a responsible, environmentally conscious corporate citizen, but also with our focus on initiatives to improve education in Kariega,” said Nonkqubela Maliza, Corporate and Government Affairs Director at VWSA. “Reliable access to water is a basic human right. We want to do our part to ensure our learners have access to water, and to the tools and resources they need in order to receive a quality education and ultimately build a bright future.”
