Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale has told parents at Jilongo, Malamulele, that they deserve the R20m school opened last Wednesday.

Speaking at the official opening of the Jilongo High school, which is the first science school in Limpopo, Mathale told the people of Jilongo that their vote was as important as that of anyone and they deserved as much as anyone in South Africa. “Your parents voted overwhelmingly for this government and their vote is as important as the vote of anyone,” he said.

He also implored the school to look after its facilities. He said learners should keep classes and toilets clean.

Mathale praised the former MEC for Education, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, who started the state-of-the-art school. “Small wonder that this visionary is now the national health minister,” said Mathale.

The school has many features which are characteristic of a modern school. The infrastructure includes boundary walls, access roads, and paved areas, water tanks with borehole-equipped ultra-violet water purification plant, electricity and sewerage.

The school also boasts of an administration block with offices for the principal, deputy principal and administrative staff.

There is also a computer laboratory with interactive white boards, a 600-seat multipurpose hall, a paraplegic four-toilet block, one standard eight-toilet block as well as one guard house.

“It does not start and ends with Jilongo. We have to open new schools where our people are based,” said Mathale.

Chief Elvis Madonsi, who is the leader at Jilongo and other villages, gave Mathale a female white goat. He said this was a good omen.

The mayor of Thulamela, Khosi Vho Thivhulawi Makumbane, said the community of Jilongo was a pioneering community. “They were the first to partner the municipality in the supply of electricity and today they are the first to have the state-of-the-art facility; we are very excited,” he said.