Latest news with #Thuthukani
The Citizen
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Thuthukani Special School receives wheelchair donation to support disabled pupils
Thuthukani Special School on Friday received a generous gift of nine wheelchairs for its pupils, thanks to the Rotary Club of Richards Bay. The wheelchairs were donated to the club by an American foundation, Chair the Hope, and each wheelchair is valued at R3 500. ALSO READ: WATCH: Thuthukani Special School puts on spectacular show This support helps children who need one wheelchair at home and one at school, as public transport does not accommodate wheelchairs and charges for an extra passenger. 'Some children are also outgrowing their wheelchairs, or theirs are broken, while there are others on our waiting list [of 300] who we can also assist,' said Thuthukani principal Marthie Combrinck. 'They lie in bed the whole day. They can't get out or play over the weekend with their friends, so this gives them that freedom,' she said. The school's occupational therapists will also make waterproof cushions tailored to each child's posture. Appeal for sponsors Corporates are encouraged to join Thuthukani's Sponsor-a-Child programme, where donations help cover school fees of R300 per child per month for 11 months. In 2024, only 36% of parents were able to pay school fees, with most pupils from poor socio-economic backgrounds. They also have a Sponsor-a-Volunteer programme of R1 200 per month for the amazing volunteers who assist the children. To assist Thuthukani with donations, their bank details are: Thuthukani Special School ABSA – Empangeni Cheque Account Branch Code: 334 130 EFT Code 632 005 Account Number: 4044 335 087 SWIFT Code: ABSAZAJJ Use 'Sponsor' and your surname/company name as a reference. The school is a registered PBO, therefore any donation receives a Section 18A certificate and can be added to BBBEE audit requirements. Contact principal@ or call 035 7920080. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Third successful round for Thuthukani
Thuthukani, Thungela's Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme, hosted a graduation ceremony for 61 local entrepreneurs from communities surrounding its operations. This marks the third cohort of entrepreneurs to successfully complete the programme since its launch in 2022. Thuthukani is designed to build resilient businesses by offering tailored business skills training, technical enablement, and one-on-one mentorship to entrepreneurs from host communities. The programme is grounded in a detailed gap analysis and enables support in areas such as finance management, marketing, sales, project strategy, leadership, ISO certification, and personal development. The programme is delivered in partnership with business development service provider Raizcorp. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Crown Publications (@crownpublications) Of the 61 entrepreneurs graduating this year, 29 are supplier development beneficiaries – Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) that currently provide goods or services to Thungela, while 32 are enterprise development beneficiaries, comprising SMMEs that are not vendors but have potential for future integration into the mining value chain or in other industries. Notably, 50 of the 61 graduates also achieved technical enablement qualifications with the following accreditations ISO or whichever one, lets share a couple of them, boosting their compliance and competitiveness for procurement opportunities. 'Thuthukani is more than a business development initiative. It is a catalyst for local economic resilience. Each graduate represents a point of impact that causes a ripple effect, creating jobs and opportunities that uplift families and communities. We are proud to support the growth of these entrepreneurs and help them realise their potential – as they contribute to the growth of local economies, said Mpumi Sithole, executive head, corporate affairs at Thungela.' The graduation highlights Thungela's commitment to inclusive socio-economic development and transforming small businesses in in host communities. As the programme grows, its impact continues to spread, with entrepreneurs not only formalising their businesses, but also entering new markets, gaining critical certifications, and becoming active contributors to the regional economy. Julliet Mahlangu a beneficiary of the programme said, 'Before Thuthukani, I lacked the systems and structure to manage and scale my business. The mentorship and technical training helped me implement better financial controls, and I now feel more confident approaching new clients and bidding for contracts.' Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok Chat to us: info@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
