Implats, the world’s second-largest platinum producer, heeded the desperate plea of a Rustenburg primary school principal, Mr Mfeleng in 2009. The plea was prompted by a flood of new applications to the Paardekraal Primary School located in Boitekong near Rustenburg in the wake of Implats’ construction of a new neighbouring suburb, Sunrise View. This Implats housing initiative, which actively promotes home ownership amongst employees, has seen the development of 1 700 bonded freestanding
two- and three- bedroom houses in Sunrise View with the consequent influx of new families into the area. At the time the Paardekraal Primary School, was the only school in
the neighbouring suburb of Sunrise Park which was besieged by new admissions resulting in a staggering 1 404 students in a school only designed for 900 students. Implats responded to this challenge and, together with the North West Department of Education and the Impala Bafokeng Trust, funded and built the Sunrise View Primary and Secondary School in Rustenburg.

“We strongly believe that our employees deserve decent, affordable housing as well as quality education for their children. As a result of our successful housing programme we were made aware that the existing school facilities did not have the capacity to cater for all of the school going children in the area,” says Terence Goodlace, Implats CEO. “There was really only one solution and that was to build a new school. The communities surrounding our mines are important to us and we remain committed to their wellbeing. This fitted in with our vision of creating sustainable communities with access to amenities including schools.” The MEC for Education in the North West, Louisah Mabe comments: ‘We appreciate our working partnership with Implats and the Impala Bafokeng Trust. Without their assistance government would not have been able to build this school. By joining hands, working together and digging deeper into our pockets, we have succeeded in constructing a school that the Department of Education will ensure benefits the local community by delivering the best education to learners.’

The project, which included the design and construction of a combination Primary and Secondary School, has a budget of R86 million of which a total of R58 million has been spent to date. The Primary School opened its doors on 9 January 2013 and has already enrolled 800 pupils at the new facilities. The Secondary School is still under construction and it is planned for completion later this year. During the construction phase some 300 jobs have been created in the local community. The school was officially opened on 17 January 2013 at a ceremony attended by the Honourable Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, the Honourable Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, the Honourable Premier of the North West Province, Thandi Modise, as well as board members of Implats and the Impala Bafokeng Trust.