Steel producer and mining company ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has completed and handed over the state-of-the-art R45-million Mandela Park Primary School, which was built in Slovo Park, Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape.

The school was handed over to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and the Mthatha community last month.

During the construction phase, which started in late 2011, about 120 local community members were trained in the use of alternative building methods, thus gaining employment opportunities through the project. These local contractors can potentially be employed for school maintenance or similar construction projects in the area in the future.

“AMSA is committed to uplifting, empower- ing and improving the lives of our disadvantaged communities through its education-focused projects, some of which include the provision of science centres at our plants. These science centres are situated in Sebokeng, Newcastle and Saldanha.

“Our core focus is to improve our country’s education as part of our goal to cut down on unemployment in our communities and develop literate and innovative societies,” explains AMSA’s corporate social responsibility and external relations manager Maggie Mopedi.

The new school will accommodate 1 200 pupils in an environment conducive to learning and teaching. “We are pleased to hand this gift to the pupils and community of Mthatha. We are excited to continue the legacy of our former President, Nelson Mandela, vwho is firm in his belief that education is key to future success. Providing quality facilities is a pillar to that success,” says AMSA CEO Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita.

“I cannot compare the gift of education to anything else in the world and, as a company, we are proud to be the ones providing it for the community of Mthatha,” she adds.

The educational facility is equipped with a laboratory; a media centre, with a computer room; eight vegetable tunnels; a garden; a fully equipped nutrition centre; two sports grounds; an administrative building, with meeting rooms; offices for the principal and vice principal; as well as a staff room and reception area.

AMSA’s alternative building technology solution, which was incorporated in the construction of the school, was developed with the support of Agrément South Africa. The long-term objective is to extend the alternative building system for use in multistorey facilities.

This technology has many environmental advantages, as the material can be infinitely recycled and is quicker to construct, compared with masonry construction building methods. Further, the use of innovative Arval steel panels, in conjunction with the technology, is in line with government’s objective to promote energy efficient and alternative cost- saving building methods.

The material used for building the school is also less labour intensive, has low carbon emissions, saves on water, reduces material wastage and is well insulated.

In 2009, AMSA entered into a partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to make a significant contribution by providing quality educational facilities to underprivileged areas across South Africa.

This is the second school that has been built and donated by AMSA to an under- privileged community, as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme. The first school, Meetse-A- Bopelo Primary School, in Mamelodi, Pretoria East, was handed over to the DBE in November 2010.