Inside Education Reporter
In the spirit of Nelson Mandela’s enduring legacy, Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, on Saturday, joined the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Johannesburg, Pan Qingjiang, and representatives from China National Building Material (CNBM) International South Africa to hand over water tanks and inverters to Eqinisweni Secondary School in Ivory Park.
The initiative, themed “Making every day a Mandela Day”, was meant to highlight the power of collaboration in strengthening education infrastructure.
The donation will benefit 20 schools across the Johannesburg East District, providing reliable water storage and energy solutions to improve teaching and learning conditions.
Speaking at the handover, MEC Maile emphasized that Mandela Day is not only about symbolic gestures but about sustainable action.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that schools are equipped to provide quality education in environments that are safe, resilient, and conducive to learning.”
Consul General Pan Qingjiang echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of solidarity between South Africa and China in advancing community development.
CNBM International South Africa reaffirmed its dedication to supporting education through practical interventions that address everyday challenges faced by schools.
The project forms part of Gauteng’s broader drive to foster meaningful partnerships between government, international allies, and the private sector.
By investing in infrastructure such as water tanks and inverters, the initiative aims to ease the burden on schools, empower learners, and honor Mandela’s vision of dignity and opportunity for all.
As learners at Eqinisweni Secondary School celebrated the handover, the message was clear, Mandela Day is not confined to a single date on the calendar, and it is a call to action to make a difference every day.
