Durban — About 185 pupils of Windy Heights Primary School in Isipingo, south of Durban, received donations of school uniforms and shoes from the Black Coffee Foundation in partnership with Hollywood Foundation on Monday.
Nkosinathi Maphumulo, better known as Black Coffee, returned to the school after one of the school’s eight blocks was named after him on September 29.
Other school blocks, which included the library and computer room, were named after other prominent leaders such as Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Moses Tembe, Maurice Fayers, Dawood Kader, Edmund Mhlongo, Florence Mkhize, Dr Gcina Mhlophe, Charlotte and Katie and Sandile Zungu.
Maphumulo’s plaque read: “This is in honour of Durban-born musician and business giant DJ Black Coffee for making strides in the music industry and his constant contributions towards community development.”
Maphumulo said this initiative was part of their contribution to better the lives of people. He said the foundation was giving out uniforms, shoes, and food parcels to three more schools, including Qondokuhle Primary School in uMlazi, which he had attended. This is his first school uniform drive.
“Every child deserves a real Christmas present, but we are trying to focus on their essential needs. They say it takes a village to raise a child. With this donation, I do not feel like a saviour but a helper that worked with a team,” said Maphumulo.
The school’s principal, Thembekile Makhanya, said this was a huge weight off parents’ shoulders. She added that the school served an informal settlement, with mostly unemployed families.
“We are working and surrounded by a community that has homes that are not up to standard or even suitable for people to live in. This would be a huge relief for the pupils’ families. I know the community is happy and was looking forward to this event as they were aware Black Coffee was coming. We are glad that, today, he managed to unveil the plaque himself after it was unveiled by the foundation’s CEO,” said Makhanya.
She said the school made a list with the name of the pupils that were identified in need of the uniforms. Five pupils were picked in 37 classes.
“The uniform sizes were matched to the shoe sizes. However, they would be given in correct sizes if needed as it can only be purchased in school,” said Makhanya.
She added that the school management team was going to present a strategic plan with the group for whom the buildings were named, detailing the school’s plans for the year 2023.
“We are starting on working and teaching to also focus on skills. We are in communication with the Department of Education to add Grade 8 and 9 certifications in our school and add more classes so that our artisan pupils can go straight to college after Grade 9. We are hoping to have a primary school that is technical, not only high schools.
“This would be ideal for pupils that we know are struggling. They can go straight to college and train themselves through skills. This would also avoid school drop-outs. We already have a partnership with the Varsity College,” she said.
Makhanya urged the school’s former students who are not in universities or colleges to reach out to the school for assistance to be admitted at Varsity College.
Daily News
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