JOHANNESBURG, 24 June 2020 – Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) has unveiled a comprehensive multi-function refurbishment serving the Youth at Goza Primary School in Freedom Park.
In an investment totaling over R415 000 and involving a diverse group of local suppliers, CCBSA installed a new library at the school, which previously was unavailable in the impoverished area. This was in addition to a new sports grounds, including a soccer field, a netball court, and a volleyball court. Paving was completed in between the classrooms with shelter over the paving. Toilets, which were in bad disrepair, received an extensive and robust facelift to full working order.
“In early January, the principal at Goza sent a request for assistance with upgrades to our Devland plant, which is in the same region,” says Georgett Naidoo, CSI Specialist for the Gauteng region at CCBSA. “We had an existing relationship with the school in our host community and continue to find way of creating shared value in the areas in which we operate.
The project team conducted a site visit of the school, along with community leaders, the Gauteng department of Education and the School Governing Body, to see what solution they could deliver.
Once the initial review was done, the team identified a range of needs, and procured the services of a preferred supplier to be the main contractor, who would in turn sub-contract some of the work to community SMMEs.
A total of six sub-contractors were enlisted from the Freedom Park community, employing 13 individuals, some of whom were unemployed Youth who gained valuable skills.
These local suppliers worked with the main contractor to roll out the paving and shelter, soccer ground, netball/volleyball pitch and landscaping of the food garden in one coordinated project.
In early March, following the selection of suppliers, measurements and plans were drawn up with approval from the School Governing Body. Construction began in early May and was completed by the end of the month, with the work done in time for the phased re-opening of schools around the country in June, following the nationwide lockdown.
“As we wanted to expedite the project, we relied on our existing supplier, who was already accredited,” says Naidoo. “However, we wanted the community to be involved in the entire process, from planning to construction, and ultimately the learners who would use the vastly improved grounds. Our ultimate goal was to ensure that the upgraded Goza Primary would help nurture many generations of youth in the community that our business calls home.”
