04 Jul 2022

Shandong Taikai Power Engineering Company has donated uniform and books to Mafitlhakgosi Primary School in Tlokweng.

The donation, made recently, comprised 31 sets of tracksuits, 31 jerseys as well as 35 books comprising 30 young learners textbooks and five PSLE revision books for Mathematics, Agriculture, Moral and Religious Education as well as English and Science.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, the company’s citizen economic empowerment coordinator, Ms Dineo Lebati, said they decided to donate school uniform since some learners skipped school due to lack of proper uniform.

“We saw it fit to give these children a second chance by donating proper winter uniform,” she said.

Ms Lebati said they sub-contracted Batswana owned companies and further recognised people with disabilities through their community outreach programme.

“This time we decided to recognise orphans and needs within the project area and therefore we chose Mafitlhakgosi as it is near to our site,” she said.

Ms Lebati also said they previously donated food hampers to two families.

She said they had also engaged two sub-contractors, Landmark projects for civil works and Micrack Investments for electrical works, adding that resulted in development and skills transfer.

For her part, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) chairperson, Ms Iponeng Moeletsi, thanked the company for its generosity. “It takes a village to grow a child and as such it is great to see that there are people in the community who still do their part in helping raise children,” Ms Moeletsi said.

The overall project review manager, Mr Zhang Lei, said Shandong was an international company engaged by Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) for the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of the Tlokweng 132/11 KV 2x30 MVA substation under the supervision of consultant Mott Macdonald.

He said their project started in August 2021 at Runfurwa Ward in Tlokweng and had since endeavoured to comply with the projects requirements, which included health and safety as well as CEE.

“In this regard through our citizen economic empowerment initiative we have engaged local sub-contractors, service providers and created employment opportunities for Tlokweng residents and locals at large,” he said.

On one hand, Mr Zhang regretted some theft cases at their sub-station and therefore encouraged the community and village leaders to assist in fighting crime in their area, particularly at project sites.ENDS