The Mayor of Newcastle, Cllr RF Rehman, and Bigen Africa Managing Principal, Wallie Louw, at the official opening of the Zithuthukile Creche in Newcastle recently.

 

Drum majorettes from the Zithuthukile crèche in Newcastle entertained the guests at the official opening of the renovated school.

 

Bigen Africa has given the pre-schoolers of the Zithuthukile Crèche situated in the northern – Natal town of Newcastle a lasting gift – a solid and well-equipped four-classroom building replacing an outdated and dilapidated facility which posed safety risks to the children.

The social investment initiative flows from a revenue management enhancement contract the Newcastle Local Municipality awarded Bigen Africa in 2003.

“As part of our developmental agenda in doing good while doing business, our Revenue Management programme assists the municipality in turning its debtor’s book into revenue through the application of eleven principles of revenue management,” says Dr Snowy Khoza, Bigen Africa CEO.

“In line with our vision to provide sustainable solutions over the entire lifecycle of infrastructure projects, our focus is on improving the quality of life of people. Our policy on social responsibility has the same focus – we do good in the communities in which we operate, in collaboration with local stakeholders so that we can maximise the impact the infrastructure has on the lives of the people,” says Snowy, a development activist at heart.

“Our decision to support the children of Zithuthukile Crèche was based on recommendations by the people of Nelspruit with whom we worked on the project. Stakeholders identified the crèche as the highest priority for receiving assistance,” says Wallie Louw Bigen Africa’s Managing Principal responsible for Asset and Revenue management portfolio.

When Bigen Africa visited the crèche for the first time, it had two buildings, one of which was donated by the then Iscor in 2000. The other building was an old mud-built block which was built by the community. The original class-room was held together by fencing wire. Bigen Africa committed R270 000 plus sweat equity towards the building of the classrooms. The work commenced in the beginning of June 2011 and the project was completed in August 2011.

Approximately 25 community members benefitted from employment opportunities during the construction, in addition to numerous part-time opportunities, including brick-layers, labourers, female cleaners, plumbers and scholars to do decorate the outside walls.

The additional classrooms have improved the learning conditions in the crèche. The kids are able to play freely and are safely accommodated. The community in general is proud of the new building and as a result more parents are registering their kids at Zithuthukile.

“Bigen Africa has helped the crèche obtain government grants from the Department of Social Development at the cost of R14,50 per child or R80 000 per month, which further enhances its sustainability” says Wallie.

The crèche is a not-for-profit organization governed by a board of six directors. It owns the property and provides tuition to 270 kids at only R70 per month, which includes meals. Eight teachers and two cleaners are remunerated from the school fees.