Middelburg– Learn Easy Driving Academy, a driving school based in Middelburg, brought a much-needed relief to L.D. Moetanalo Secondary School in Mhluzi on 11 July by fixing nearly 200 broken windows in classrooms.
Nicholas Ntimba, owner of the academy, said his motivation stemmed from personal experience. “I grew up attending a township school, and I still remember how difficult it was to learn in winter with broken windows. No child should endure that,” he said.
Ntimba emphasised that his contribution aimed to give today’s learners the comfort and dignity he and many others never had.
The R6,000 worth donation covered the replacement of over 197 small glass panels in the grade 8 and 9 classrooms. This is not the first time Ntimba has supported the school—he previously donated school uniforms to 30 learners after noticing the children walking the streets without proper attire.
Ntimba hopes his act of giving inspires other local entrepreneurs to do the same. “This shows that it takes a village to raise a child. Small businesses like mine rely on community support, so it’s only right we give back,” he said, adding that he intends to continue assisting the school, including launching non-financial support programmes.
The spokesperson of the Mpumalanga Department of Education, Gerald Sambo, said the department extends its sincere gratitude to Learn Easy Driving Academy for their generous contribution. “This act of support is in line with the spirit of the Rhandza Xikolo Xa Wena campaign, which emphasises the significance of community involvement in maintaining the quality of our educational institutions,” he said.
“We encourage other key stakeholders to emulate Learn Easy Driving Academy’s commitment by allocating their time and resources to support their local schools. By doing so, we can collectively contribute to the improvement of our schools and enhance the overall educational landscape.”
One of the parents, Refilwe Ramashodi, said what Learn Easy Driving Academy has done will go a long way. “My child always complained about the cold classroom and had to wear extra clothes that weren’t part of the school uniform. Teachers would complain, but there was nothing we could do. I’m grateful that someone stood up and did what the government should have done long ago,” she said.
