Norcros creates safe spaces at Mohlaletse Secondary School, Limpopo

Norcros South Africa has created safe spaces in Limpopo as part of their commitment to the South African government’s Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) initiative, which is a partnership between government and the private sector to help eliminate pit latrines at schools. “Our 2022 project was Mohlaletse Secondary School in Sekhukhune District in Limpopo, about 2 hours south-east of Polokwane” confirms Rachel Imasiku, Legal Director and Company Secretary for Norcros South Africa.

The official handover of the new bathroom facilities took place at the school on 29 July 2022, with the local Chief, Mr Matji and Messers Lesufi and Seroka, the District and Circuit representatives from the Department of Education in attendance. Other dignitaries included Mr Seloga from the DBE infrastructure and school principal Mrs Nkadimeng.

As with other schools that the company has assisted, Mohlaletse Secondary School had only pit latrines for the approximately 300 students enrolled there. The project was a combined effort of all the divisions within Norcros South Africa, who each contributed towards creating a safe bathroom space for the school. Tile Africa’s Supply and Fit team constructed two new bathroom buildings, Johnson Tiles supplied the tiles, TAL provided the tile adhesives and grout, whilst House of Plumbing ensured all plumbing requirements were met including the supply of durable and low maintenance basins for the bathrooms.

Enviro-loo, the manufacturer of a waterless dry sanitation system was contracted to supply toilets and urinals for the school. This system has been used successfully before to transform human waste into a safe, stabilised material without the use of water, electricity or chemicals, relying instead on sun and wind. This contract included a servicing agreement to maintain the installation for 2 years. The bathrooms provide facilities for the learners, the educators and a paraplegic toilet was also installed to accommodate all users of the school.

The Tile Africa team made use of local suppliers and contractors as much as possible and took time to teach tiling skills to 3 unemployed members of the community as part of the company’s goals to uplift the communities in which they work, and so that future maintenance and repairs that the school may need for their bathrooms, may be quickly attended to. A supply of spare tiles and adhesives were left at the school for this purpose. In addition, all classrooms with plastered walls were painted and new doors installed where required.

As part of the company’s Mandela Month activities, Norcros staff from across all the divisions, donated toiletries for the learners at Mohlaletse Secondary School. These were packed by volunteers at Norcros SA head office and given to the learners at the hand over event in Limpopo.

“Taking our commitment to the schools further, it is our practice to hire a cleaner to assist with keeping the facilities clean for the first three months after the project is complete, and we provide an annual maintenance visit to each school we have assisted” says Imasiku.

“This initiative is very important to us and speaks to our company’s purpose which is creating spaces for living life your way” concludes Imasiku.