“In the past, our approach to community development was more of providing access to benefits that accrue from our business. We have now added the issue of Corporate Social Investment wherein we have begun to provide facilities and resources that can benefit the whole community”, said the Kruger National Park Managing Executive, Abe Sibiya on behalf of SANParks.
The school, situated on the border of the iconic Kruger National Park is the first beneficiary of the SANParks CSI project in the Limpopo Province. The computer lab is not meant to benefit learners only; but that outside the normal school hours, it will also extend the service to people in the community aspiring to have computer skills.
Sibiya said “This is the first project which talks directly to our new vision “National Parks connecting to Society”. Our bet now is to improve the socio-economic situation of the rural poor in the provinces; which is also in line with the government mandate. The programme forms part of the KNP’s broader strategy of economic empowerment and social responsibility programmes which focuses on communities around the Parks”.
For five years, the programme will mainly focus around education related needs such as support through provision of required infrastructure, libraries, science laboratories, additional classrooms, borehole/water tanks and in future, will also look at other areas as identified with community stakeholders and relevant institutions.
In conclusion Sibiya said through these projects, SANParks hopes that beneficiaries will inspire a culture of performance and cost effectiveness; becoming thoughtful learning communities which use information and forward planning to increase their value – thereby giving SANParks returns on these social investments – into the future.
Clockwise: The Managing Executive: KNP, Mr Abe Sibiya (left) and Honourable MEC: Education Limpopo Province, Mr Dickson Masemola (middle right) officially hand-over the computer lab to Masiza High School. With them is the Managing Executive: Corporate Services: SANParks, Ms wanda mkutshulwa, (right) and Executive Mayor: Mopani District, Cllr Joshua Matlou (middle left)
To view more pictures, please click here