Platinum group metals miner Lonmin last month handed the New Marikana primary school over to the North West Department of Education and Sport Development, in Rustenburg, and the Marikana community.

The R17-million school, a first-rate educational facility, accommodating up to 750 leaners in grades R to 7, will significantly enrich the community. The school facilities include a dedicated Grade R learning centre, ablution facilities that also cater for disabled learners, a kitchen to provide meals for learners and a 900-seater hall.

The New Marikana primary school further comprises 16 classrooms for Grade 3 to Grade 7 learners, four classrooms to accommodate Grade 1 and Grade 2 learners, the Grade R facility that entails two large classrooms and a 115 m2 under-roof open area, three managerial office facilities, a sick bay and a conference room.

The launch of the New Marikana primary school creates a secure learning environment for learners, while increasing the capacity offered by the 19 primary and eight high schools already servicing the area.

hree local contractors were commissioned to build the school and 150 jobs were created that also benefited the local communities.

Lonmin CEO Ben Magara said the launch of the school ensures better educational opportunities and, therefore, a brighter future for Marikana’s children; it is also evidence of the company’s dedication to protecting the rights of people.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said partnerships in education were essential to the success of the mining sector. “Addressing the needs of our children and ensuring all learners are able to go to school in a safe environment is something [government] cannot do alone”.

The school handover forms part of Lonmin’s social labour plan (SLP) targets for 2014 to 2018, which emphasise the need to improve the quality of life for communities living near its mines.

Lonmin’s other SLP education-related achievements include a R100-million investment in education since 2014; 17 greater Lonmin community schools benefiting from its school infrastructure programme; 2 799 children benefiting from its early childhood development programme; and 1 416 students having been placed in various learnership programmes in mining and nonmining fields.