Lukhanji Primary, Nkwanca High benefit from corporate outreach donation
natural science and technology kit from Queens Casino acting general manager Vernon Putzier as part of the
company’s social responsibility programme. Picture: SUPPLIED
Education received a welcome boost in Komani this week, when Queens Casino, handed over maths and science kits to two local schools — Nkwanca High School and Lukhanji Primary School —as part of their corporate social responsibility programme, which aims to strengthen teaching and learning in sciencerelated subjects and encourage pupils to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.
The handover function was attended by the Eastern Cape Gambling Board (ECGB), the department of economic development, environmental affairs & tourism (DEDEAT), and the Eastern Cape department of education, who all leant their support to the initiative.
According to Pumeza George from the Eastern Cape Gambling Board, these contributions are part of a regulatory obligation requiring licensed gambling entities to reinvest 1% of their annual revenue into uplifting the communities where they operate.
“As regulators, we ensure that our licensees not only operate responsibly but also make a tangible contribution to the communities they serve,” George said. “It is part of their licensing condition to take one percent of their revenue and give back —wh e t h e r through education, social welfare, or community development.”
George said the initiative reflected a strong commitment by Queens Casino and its partners to promoting education and supporting schools in underresourced areas.
“We have been closely monitoring such initiatives, especially those run by businesses licensed under the gambling board and DEDEAT,” she said.
“It is important that our partnerships create sustainable impact — particularly in education, where the need is greatest.”
The donation, valued at more than R100,000, includes complete maths and natural science and technology kits for grades 4 to 7 at Lukhanji Primary School and grades 8 to 12 at Nkwanca High School. The kits are designed to enhance practical learning, allowing pupils to conduct experiments and engage more deeply with mathematical and scientific concepts.
Reacting to the donation on behalf of Lukhanji Primary, principal Ben Mtiya said: “We are very happy about the ploughback by Queens Casino in our school, it was badly needed. We promise to take care of it and to make our school a centre of natural science and technology in Mlungisi.”
Education department assistant director Madoda Ndembe, who was also in attendance, praised and welcomed the investment and the willingness for Queens Casino to invest in local schools to upflift the standard of maths and natural science education.
He cautioned the pupils that they must protect this investments and to avoid using them as a bargaining tool when there is unhappiness about something else and end up destroying the resources and equipment while trying to convey their unhappiness to the authorities, as it has been seen in many other educational institutions.
Queens Casino representative Sulezi Lwana-Fele said: “We decided on a primary school that feeds to a high school and specifically targeted these two schools from Enoch Migijima Municipality because they are in a part of our community that is disadvantaged and also within our district and local municipality.”
The partnership demonstrates how collaboration between business, government, and regulators can make a lasting difference in the lives of pupils —paving the way for a more scientifically literate and empowered generation .
SPHOKUHLE NONGAUZA
