Durban - A R20 million renovated school has been handed over by the Zikhulise Group – owned by the Durban multimillionaire couple Sbu and Shauwn Mpisane - during Youth Day.
The small premises of Inhlakanipho High School in KwaMashu’s D-Section was filled with popular TV personalities, musicians, sportsmen and politicians, while their bodyguards struggled to keep the crowd away.
The Mpisanes had put on a show by bringing in celebrities, as they usually do. While most donned glamorous outfits, SABC sports presenter Minnie Dlamini and TV personality Khanyi Mbau wore school uniforms. Shauwn Mpisane herself was dressed in the school’s above-knee brown and khaki uniform.
Sbu Mpisane said pupils at the school, which he used to attend, would receive refurbished state-of-the-art facilities: a music room; laboratory; soccer, rugby and netball fields; and a tennis court.
He said the school, which opened in November 1976, had been rundown and he felt it was important to help.
“It is important to give back to the community in the form of education; to make sure that what those students fought (for) did not go in vain,” he said.
When asked if they would do more for other schools in future, he said: “It’s hard to say right now, but things are in the pipeline.”
A security company had been hired to guard the facilities around the clock to prevent theft, he said.
“We have spoken to the community and pleaded with them to look after the school. We have fenced the school and brought a canteen inside so that children do not go out before the end of school,” Shauwn added.
Premier Senzo Mchunu, who also attended the celebration at the school before heading to Mandeni, near Stanger, called on the youth to take ownership of the country’s future. “They must accept they are the future of this country. We say all youths of KZN should take a decision and say they are the future of South Africa.”
Lusanda Sphengane, 19, a pupil at the school, said she had never attended such a Youth Day celebration before.
“I have seen a lot of people you only get to see on TV,” she added.
Avumile Qwane, 19, said: “There was never anything like this before. We didn’t have grounds at all in this school.”
Keletso Dlamini, 18, said there was a lot of crime around the school and it had attracted drug users as it was not fenced.
“I am happy that we now have a good school. Just because people are successful, it does not mean you can look down on others. You must always remember where you came from,” he said.
Daily News