The operations manager of De Beers Venetia Mine, Mr Johnny Velloza, officially handed over R14.5 million to schools around Musina and Blouberg at the Musina Venetia recreational hall last Friday.

During the presentation of R223 000 to each of the different schools, Velloza said that De Beers Consolidated Mine announced a special initiative to support disadvantaged schools in 2007. "This is being done in terms of the principles of the De Beers Consolidated Mines’ gain-sharing incentive scheme and in memory of a colleague, Mr Michael Masindi, who died tragically in a mining accident in September 2006. Masindi passionately believed in the need for educational upliftment."

Velloza further said that this schools initiative was in addition to the substantial work by the support of rural schools undertaken by the company’s social investment vehicle, De Beers Fund, since 1973.

De Beers Fund spends an average of R35 million a year on community development, mostly centered on disadvantaged areas near DBCM mining communities.

The principal of Kgalushi High School, Ms Esther Manaka, said that through the donation the learners are going to learn hard and improve their results. "Due to a lack of resources, we were teaching in overcrowded conditions. It was difficult for the teachers to see absent learners, but I am very proud because Venetia Mine came to our rescue. We are going to build classes," said Manaka.

The mayor of Musina Municipality, Caroline Mahasela, congratulated what Venetia Mine did to help the government to improve the education of the learners. She appealed to other companies to follow the example set by De Beers.

Vhembe Senior district manager Mr Nthambeleni Rambiyana said he hoped other companies or businesspeople would learn from De Beers by donating something that could help the education of the local children. "There is a serious shortage of classroom in our schools as many of us are in rural areas. We hope more companies will open their hearts to help improve education for our children," said Rambiyana.