FleetAfrica encourages higher literacy at Ngaka Maseko High School

On Friday, 16 March, South Africa’s foremost provider of fleet management solutions, FleetAfrica, extended its investment in the education and advancement of South Africa’s youth when it launched a newly revamped section of the Ngaka Maseko High School’s library, north of Pretoria. This was done as part of FleetAfrica’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme aimed at improving readership.

The company partnered with new social responsibility organisation, Bala Africa, which specialises in improving the youth’s readership levels around the country, to provide the school’s 900 learners with relevant and topical books in the hope of greater empowerment through education. “We carefully selected novels and other reading material on behalf of FleetAfrica to resonate with this particular community’s context and way of life,” says Isabelle Rorke of Bala Africa.

Over the coming year, Bala Africa will monitor the school’s readership programme via MXit, and will provide continuous inspiration to learners through competitions and speeches by the authors themselves. “The idea is to make reading fun and inspirational, to improve confidence and communication skills, and to help kids become more open-minded,” says Rorke.

Some of the authors provided include Siphiwo Mahala (African Delights), Lutz van Dijk (Themba – a Boy Called Hope), and Zukiswa Wanner (Man of the South).

FleetAfrica chose the Ngaka Maseko High School because it was where FleetAfrica’s CEO, Kamogelo Mmutlana, matriculated. The event also served as an opportunity for learners to be exposed to a previous student who has largely achieved success. Mmutlana explained: “It is important for children to know that they are capable of achievement after matriculation, and that hard work, discipline and focus pay off. By being here today, I hope to show that, no matter the circumstances, success is up to each learner individually.”

Jake Abraham, Headmaster at Ngaka Maseko, said: “Mr Mmutlana has truly given back to his community and I hope this inspires today’s youth to read more and to strive for success. He is proof that it is possible to succeed, despite coming from a largely impoverished community.”

Part of the company’s CSR developments already in place includes the staff’s tutoring of students in English, Mathematics, Business Economics and Accounting at a high school in Lanseria.

In addition, FleetAfrica has awarded a bursary to a student, who has enrolled for a Degree in Transport Economics. This student will become a FleetAfrica employee after graduation, and will gain vital working experience, by working with the company during school holidays.

EnquiriesLollita PitsoMarketing ManagerFleetAfrica  Tel: (011) 523 4300E-mail: Lollita.Pitso@fleetafrica.com

From:         CubicICE (Pty) Ltd (011) 705 2545Submitted:  Claire Young [clairy@cubicice.com]Compiled:   Ryan JoubertPR:             PR FLA 3315 Ngaka High School CSR initiative