By Sydney Masinga
Dundonald – Public Enterprises Deputy Minister Bulelani Magwanishe handed over six fully furnished timber-frame classrooms to Bhekimfundvo Primary School in Swallows Nest, near Dundonald on Saturday.
The environmentally friendly classrooms are a donation from the state-owned South African Forestry Company SOC Limited (Safcol).
"We are looking forward to building more timber structures for different purposes throughout the country," Magwanishe said.
Safcol group chief executive Nomkhita Mona said the donation is part of Safcol's rural development efforts.
“Safcol brings green classrooms to (this) rural community as (we) continue to play a pivotal role in rural socio-economic and infrastructure development. This is because infrastructure development is a key priority in government, and the need is most evident in the rural communities,” said Mona.
Mona said Safcol has developed partnerships with communities surrounding its plantations to uplift them.
He said Bhekimfundvo Primary School is situated near a Safcol plantation.
Mona said the company consulted the Mpumalanga Education Department before building the timber structures.
The classrooms, which have furniture donated by Komatiland Forestry, were built this year and the pupils have already moved in.
Mona said the timber structures were not only environmentally friendly, but were quick to build.
“Timber is good for building purposes as it is sustainable and renewable, which makes it a resource that has a low environmental impact. These structures also have high insulation properties making the cost of heating and cooling less during the different seasons,” said Mona.
Last year, three similar classrooms were handed over at Beketelani Primary School in Blairmore, near Amsterdam. Pupils at the rural school used to learn under a tree making it hard to go to school during rainy seasons. – SAnews.gov.za
