Epiroc South Africa cultivates an environment that is dedicated to advancing education which is considered by the global mining equipment and technology specialist as the cornerstone of a thriving society, opening doors to successful careers, enriching communities and fuelling economic growth.
Upholding this robust culture of educational advancement, Epiroc, in collaboration with customers, recently invested in South Africa’s youth through the donation of essential school uniforms, furniture and stationery to five underprivileged rural schools in Steelpoort, Limpopo Province.
“Several of our customers operate in and around the Steelpoort mining town,” says Ziyanda Mkhaliphi, CSR Manager at Epiroc, who explains that the area, which is on the Limpopo/ Mpumalanga Province border, is home to many economically disadvantaged communities. “With several local schools in critical need, members of the Steelpoort community reached out to us for assistance. By supporting and enhancing the lives of learners in our host communities, we, as a provider of innovative mining equipment and services, are helping to uplift and empower the region as a whole, while at the same time, cultivating a solid pipeline of professionals for the future.”
Ziyanda passionately emphasises that these donations signify something far greater. “It’s essentially about enhancing the learners’ overall educational experience and fostering a sense of belonging and pride in attending school.” She further draws attention to the sobering reality that, in many African countries, the unaffordability and unavailability of sanitary pads are compromising the education of countless young women whose menstrual cycle is causing them to miss up to one week of school every month. “Aligned with our gender equality drive and in a bid to address this issue, we have been partnering with Palesa Pads for several years. Through the donation of safe, re-usable sanitary pads, this incredible and life-changing initiative restores the dignity of young women and facilitates their learning journey.”
On 10 February 2025, Team Epiroc – Mathabo Phasha, Belinda Laas, Bongani Ndlovu, Ziyanda Mkhaliphi, Sthembiso Mnisi and Antoinette Jansen van Vuuren – paid a visit to the beneficiary schools in Steelpoort, where they had the opportunity to meet and converse with the educators and the learners, and to distribute the donations.
Some 166 students (91 boys and 75 girls) from Primary Schools Shophiana, Kgoboko and Maelebe, welcomed with great excitement and deep appreciation their new uniforms which included shirts, pants, skirts, tracksuits and shoes. The girls expressed profound gratitude for their reusable sanitary pads, which allow them to pursue their education without interruptions during their menstrual cycles.
The Principal and School Governing Body from Motsepe Primary School and a Grade R volunteer teacher from Monametse Primary School submitted requests to the nearby mine for essential supplies aimed at enhancing the classroom environment at their respective schools. “Working closely with our customers, we supplied Motsepe with white boards, whiteboard markers, dusters and printing paper.”
Monametse Primary School received 40 workspace bundles that comprised a desk and a chair, toys (trucks, teapots, blocks), puzzles, scissors, pencils, paint, apron, brushes and kokis. “We also contributed 20 double desks, 40 chairs. To brighten up their classroom, we also supplied 11 educational wall display pictures depicting colourful images of the weather, shapes, etc.”
Ziyanda concludes, “We cannot emphasise enough the importance of education. It is pivotal to personal development, economic growth, social progress and the overall well-being of individuals and communities. It empowers individuals with knowledge and skills, promotes critical thinking and cultivates informed decision-making. Education also contributes to reducing poverty and improving health outcomes, ultimately leading to a more equitable and sustainable society. Through these school donations, we endeavour to make a meaningful difference, no matter how small, by helping to pave the way for smoother journeys along the learners’ educational paths. We strongly encourage support for education to shape our nation by equipping today’s learners with the necessary skills and tools they need to carve a brighter tomorrow.” /ends/
