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Centre’s goal: to eradicate illiteracy
=Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Athol Trollip opens the second literacy centre in Uitenhage. From left are Vernon Naidoo (VW Community Trust), Monwabisi Pepeta (Principal Mngcunube Primary School), Mizwandile Mampunye (office of the MEC Education and Training), Executive Mayor Athol Trollip, Councillor Lindelwa Qukubana, Earnest Gorgonzola (District Director of Education) and Maurita Weissenberg (Shine Literacy). PHOTO:QUICKPIC
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olkswagen Group South Africa’s (VWSA) commitment to ensuring that Grade 3 learners in the Uitenhage area are functionally literate received another boost this week with the opening of a second literacy centre in Uitenhage. The literacy centre was opened at the Mngcunube Primary School in KwaNobuhle, Uitenhage. The aim of the centre is to provide structured literacy support to learners, teachers and parents. “Early childhood development not only means focussing on the learners, but also on the teachers and parents/caregivers of the children. Making sure that all three have the tools to learn, teach and guide is important to the success of this legacy project”, said Thomas
Schaefer, Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa. In 2015, together with the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, the Volkswagen Community Trust (VWCT) launched a Literacy Programme where Volkswagen made a commitment to ensure that all learners in Uitenhage are functionally literate by the time they reach Grade 3. This was then followed, by amongst others, the opening of the first literacy centre at Ntlemeza Primary School in 2017. The five schools chosen for this Legacy Project were Ashton Gontshi, Mngcunube, Noninzi Luzipho, Ntlemeza and Vuba Primary Schools all situated in KwaNobuhle. Volkswagen spends at least 80% of its CSI
budget on education and early childhood development, which includes the renovation of facilities; training and mentorship of teachers and parents/caregivers as well as the establishment of literacy centres. “Leaving a legacy in the Uitenhage community is very important for us as a company. We realise it is a huge undertaking but we have to start somewhere. “If we can have functionally literate Grade 3’s moving into the senior phase of the primary schools in the Uitenhage area, we will be leaving a legacy which will continue to grow as those learners move into society as literate individuals,” concluded Thomas Schaefer.
Despatch / Uitenhage / Mosel
Klinicare Despatch Pharmacy Tel: 041 933 2109 Fax: 041 933 2644 Email:despatch@klinicare.co.za Klinicare Mosel Pharmacy, Tel: 041 922 8515 Fax: 041 922 0057 Klinicare Uitenhage Pharmacy Tel: 041 991 1234 Fax: 041 991 0734 Levyvale Shopping Centre 114 Caledon Street, Uitenhage 5 Settlers Way, Uitenhage X1UC8DDW-UX010318
EDITOR: HEILIE COMBRINCK
Metro economy ‘heavily reliant on water’ THE Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMBBC) announced the results of a survey which solicited the views of its members about drought, water scarcity and water restrictions in Nelson Mandela Bay metro. “We commissioned this survey to guide the business chamber’s efforts and engagement with national, regional and municipal planning authorities,” said Nomkhita Mona, Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO. Mona notes that the economy of Uitenhage, Port Elizabeth and Despatch which constitute the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, is heavily reliant on water, “lifeblood of the Bay’s industrial and manufacturing-oriented economy.” Some of the outcomes include that a total of 63% of respondents indicated they were severely concerned about the future impact of the drought, water scarcity and water restrictions on the operations, profitability and sustainability of their businesses. The chamber survey sought to establish how Nelson Mandela Bay businesses would respond to a Day Zero scenario. For 59% of respondents, it will be business as usual. However, 42% would be adversely affected: 21% of businesses indicated they would shut down, and 21% indicated staff members would be sent home. An overwhelming 94% of businesses want national, regional and local planning authorities to consider desalination plants in Nelson Mandela Bay as part of future strategies to ensure water resource availability. Mona believes that there need to be frank debates and discussions to map a way forward and co-craft Nelson Mandela Bay’s “Bay H20 Security”.