Boshoek Primary School has officially opened the Grade R Early Childhood Development (ECD) facility to offer learners a safer, more spacious, and inspiring environment to learn and grow.

The development was made possible through the support of Glencore Ferroalloys’ Boshoek Smelter in response to the school’s growing infrastructure needs and a long-standing request for assistance.

The facility consists of the following:

• Four spacious classrooms
• Two fully equipped kitchens
• Six modern ablution facilities
• Two sickbay rooms to ensure the health and well-being of the young learners
• Water reservoir and pump to feed the facility amenities
• Firefighting equipment

Conroy van der Westhuizen, Chief Community and Social Responsibility Officer, and Chabisi Motloung, General Manager of Boshoek Smelter, noted that Glencore’s support for Boshoek Primary reflects its commitment to being a responsible partner, one that listens to community needs and responds with actions that create meaningful, lasting impact. They emphasised that education remains one of the most powerful tools for building strong, sustainable communities, and that this initiative demonstrates Glencore’s ongoing purpose of energising today, advancing tomorrow by investing in environments where young learners can truly thrive.

Intentionally built in a more secluded part of the school grounds, the new facility allows the young learners space to play, learn, and explore freely away from the busier areas used by older learners, therefore creating an environment tailored to their developmental needs.

Speaking on behalf of the School Governing Body, Chairperson Mr L. Ramafolo expressed appreciation:

“We are excited with this development. The Grade R Early Childhood Development (ECD) facility will make a meaningful difference to both our learners and teachers. We thank Glencore for listening to our call and partnering with us in such a practical and impactful way. This is a milestone not just for the school, but for the entire community.”

The facility can accommodate 35 learners per class totalling 140 learners, an immediate relief from overcrowded classrooms and will give the school the ability to accommodate the growing learner base more comfortably. Complete with child friendly furniture, educational equipment and toys which will allow learners to jump straight into their learning journey.

Importantly, the infrastructure was built by local contractor, which created 27 employment opportunities for doorstep Macharora community members for the duration of the project.

This project reflects a growing recognition that education is not just a social need, but the foundation for thriving, sustainable communities.