New facilities for Umthombomuhle school

Bidvest Freight company, Bulk Connections, has constructed and officially handed over a new block of classrooms, offices and sanitation facilities to Umthombomuhle Intermediate School, situated in Cliffdale, KwaZulu-Natal.

After first donating and installing a fence to the school, the Bulk Connections team found the condition of the school facilities were in a bad state. Overcrowding and a lack of adequate and proper toilet facilities were discovered at the school, which serves around 1 400 learners. Although the school had toilets and classrooms, these were not enough to cater for the high number of pupils registered at the school.

The outdated facilities severely hampered the learning experience. Containers were being used as classrooms and were not conducive to both cold and hot temperatures. Each class had between 50 to 70 pupils crammed inside the container room.

The newly built block of classrooms will enhance the physical learning environment, while the new sanitation facilities will directly address hygiene and health concerns that affect attendance and academic performance. Teachers and parents are optimistic that these improvements will result in improved learner performance at the school.

This project has also provided job opportunities to about 20 people in the community, allowing them to earn a living and gain valuable experience. It is a positive step towards improving the local economy of Cliffdale.

Commenting on the initiative, Sanele Myeza, Human Resource Director at Bulk Connections said, "It is now up to the school management, local residents and pupils to ensure the new infrastructure and facilities are properly maintained. Everyone from the community will benefit from this school, directly and indirectly. We expect doctors, accountants and engineers to come from this school in the near future. Our Managing Director, Mr Xolani Mbulawa, has already pledged to give a bursary to the first learner from the school that is accepted at university to study towards a degree in Engineering."

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