A Grahamstown taxi boss was recently given a hero’s welcome at Carlisle Bridge Primary School where he handed over keys to a new block of toilets he built with his own money.
Thembinkosi Mancam stepped in after seeing pupils leaving the school premises to relieve themselves in a nearby bush.
Former pupils, parents, politicians, local businessmen and government officials recently converged on the school to pay homage to Mancam, 47, at a celebratory hand-over ceremony.
Addressing the crowd, Mancam said: “I would like to thank my family for not standing in my way, but encouraging me after I had told them about my plans for this school.
“I’m not done, there’s still a lot to do for this school but I can’t do everything at once due to financial limitations.
“The walls are old, so I would like to refurbish a few classrooms. It has always been my dream to contribute to uplifting rural areas.”
Among those who attended the July 29 event, was former Grahamstown mayor Zamuxolo Peter.
Peter urged other entrepreneurs to follow in Mancam’s footsteps.
“I would like to urge other businesspeople to be inspired by Mancam and contribute towards social responsibility and give back to communities.”
Lungelwa Buwa, who studied at the school between 1980 and 1986, said: “It pains me that the walls of this school still look the same as the last time I was a pupil here,” said Buwa, before calling on the government to build a new school.
Totomani Skeyi said the bushes around the school which thepupils had been using as toilets, were infested with snakes.
Skeyi donated a goat to Mancam as a token of appreciation.
Grahamstown district education official Sizwe Betela said: “As the department of education we would like to inform you that your contribution will not go unnoticed by us.”
Betela urged more people to give back to society.
Carlisle Bridge is one of the smallest schools in the province with just 76 pupils. It is one of many schools around the province without proper ablution facilities.
In 2013, the Daily Dispatch reported that 340000 Eastern Cape pupils go to school every day without proper toilets.
The figure emerged after DA shadow MEC for education Edmund van Vuuren received an answer from education MEC Mandla Makupula on the provincial school sanitation backlog.
But the lack of toilets is not the school’s only problem as it doesn’t have a library, science laboratory or sports facilities.
The school itself consists of a shed made from corrugated iron sheeting to house multiple grades.
A rolling wooden door divides the structure into two classrooms with grades one to three using one half and grades four and seven using the other half. Two rondavels are also used for classes.
School principal Thozama Shwempe said the buildings belong to the department of public works.
Eastern Cape education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said: “The president of the republic declared education a societal matter and this is participation of the society at its best. We encourage other businesspeople to plough back in their communities.”
Taxi boss brings relief to school with toilets
Thembinkosi Mancam stepped in after seeing pupils leaving the school premises to relieve themselves in a nearby bush.
Former pupils, parents, politicians, local businessmen and government officials recently converged on the school to pay homage to Mancam, 47, at a celebratory hand-over ceremony.
Addressing the crowd, Mancam said: “I would like to thank my family for not standing in my way, but encouraging me after I had told them about my plans for this school.
“I’m not done, there’s still a lot to do for this school but I can’t do everything at once due to financial limitations.
“The walls are old, so I would like to refurbish a few classrooms. It has always been my dream to contribute to uplifting rural areas.”
Among those who attended the July 29 event, was former Grahamstown mayor Zamuxolo Peter.
Peter urged other entrepreneurs to follow in Mancam’s footsteps.
“I would like to urge other businesspeople to be inspired by Mancam and contribute towards social responsibility and give back to communities.”
Lungelwa Buwa, who studied at the school between 1980 and 1986, said: “It pains me that the walls of this school still look the same as the last time I was a pupil here,” said Buwa, before calling on the government to build a new school.
Totomani Skeyi said the bushes around the school which thepupils had been using as toilets, were infested with snakes.
Skeyi donated a goat to Mancam as a token of appreciation.
Grahamstown district education official Sizwe Betela said: “As the department of education we would like to inform you that your contribution will not go unnoticed by us.”
Betela urged more people to give back to society.
Carlisle Bridge is one of the smallest schools in the province with just 76 pupils. It is one of many schools around the province without proper ablution facilities.
In 2013, the Daily Dispatch reported that 340000 Eastern Cape pupils go to school every day without proper toilets.
The figure emerged after DA shadow MEC for education Edmund van Vuuren received an answer from education MEC Mandla Makupula on the provincial school sanitation backlog.
But the lack of toilets is not the school’s only problem as it doesn’t have a library, science laboratory or sports facilities.
The school itself consists of a shed made from corrugated iron sheeting to house multiple grades.
A rolling wooden door divides the structure into two classrooms with grades one to three using one half and grades four and seven using the other half. Two rondavels are also used for classes.
School principal Thozama Shwempe said the buildings belong to the department of public works.
Eastern Cape education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said: “The president of the republic declared education a societal matter and this is participation of the society at its best. We encourage other businesspeople to plough back in their communities.”
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