MATSHAVHAWE – In an effort to alleviate illiteracy amongst the youth in rural areas, a local farmer, Mr Paul Thomas assisted the Matshavhawe Primary School by building two classrooms.

Presently Matshavhawe Primary has ten classrooms, including the two that have been built by Mr Thomas. According to the Principal, Mr LN Siaga, lessons used to be conducted under trees and that in times of bad weather; he was forced to release children to go home. "We used to accommodate about 140 pupils in each classroom," he added.

It was in 1999 when members of the SGB, the School Principal and his staff put their heads together and started asking for donations in the form of money and/or timber from nearby farms with the view of building the school, as there was a shortage of classes at the school. "Credit must go to Mr Thomas, who first agreed to donate zinc and then changed his mind after his wife asked him to build us two classrooms," Mr Siaga elaborated.

Even though the school received two additional classrooms from Mr Thomas, the principal is still using old buildings as his office and his staff uses the school veranda and trees as their offices.

On behalf of the Mayor of the Makhado Municipality, the acting Mayor Cllr NP Muladi said that the Municipality appreciated what Mr Paul Thomas has done and that they are appealing to the Matshavhawe Community not to vandalise the building.

"We also appreciate the initiative taken by the School's Governing Body and the Principal for approaching Mr Thomas. According to Mr Muladi, It is also a challenge for other surrounding communities who are still waiting for Government to do things for them. As Government we have started a private Public programme, which is commonly known as the Municipal Private Partnership. We are appealing to farmers and all those with deep pockets to follow the pace that have been set by Mr Thomas. His generosity is a true example of ploughing back into the community. Mr Thomas' efforts symbolise, at least to the municipality, that he cares about the future of our country," he said.

Currently, the school has 13 teachers and about 460 learners. Matshavhawe Primary School accommodates pupils from Grade R to Grade 7. Mr Paul Thomas received a Certificate of appreciation from the Makhado Municipality.