Former president Nelson Mandela and Deputy President Jacob Zuma will open the Mnyakanya Secondary School at Nkandla in the Eshowe district in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday.
The severely under-resourced school received a R6-million makeover from mining company Gold Fields following an appeal by Mandela and Zuma.
Minister of Home Affairs, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucka, premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Lionel Mtshali and other dignitaries are expected to attend the event.
Senior vice-president of Gold Fields, Willie Jacobsz, said: ”This project is an example of how Gold Fields is working with communities to build the future. Education is perhaps the greatest need of young people in our country today and we, in Gold Fields, are playing our part in ensuring that as many as possible receive that opportunity in conditions that are conductive to learning.”
The school, which produces an average 90% matric pass rate, is the only high school in the area to offer mathematics, physical science and commercial subjects.
It used to have only 12 classrooms, two of which were used as an office and a staff room.
The project included building, furnishing and equipping 12 new classrooms, a hall and library, book store and computer area and an administration block comprising the principal’s office and record room, heads of department offices, a staff room, kitchenette, sick room and store, said a Gold Fields statement. – Sapa