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Unisa KZN donates furniture to underprivileged schools

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February is known as the month of love and many people mark this occasion by exchanging presents and flowers. The KwaZulu-Natal Region of Unisa used this opportunity to show their humanity by donating desks and chairs to underprivileged schools in the Umlazi and uMgungundlovu districts.

Mlungisi Khanyile (Maintenance assistance, Unisa), Principal of Sombongangani Primary School, Principal of KwaNkabini Primary School, Mildred Ngcobo (Unisa employee) and two educators from Sombongangani Primary School


In the week of 22 February 2021, the region, on behalf of the Unisa Examination Department, donated 7 000 desks to the Department of Education in the Umlazi District, as well as desks and chairs to different schools in the uMgungundlovu District.

NP Cele, District Director of the Umlazi District Schools, sent a request for the donation of furniture to Linda Nhlumayo, Regional Centre Manager at Unisa. After engagement and agreement between Unisa’s Student Assessment and Administration, and Community Engagement and Outreach departments, Dr Genevieve James, the Deputy Director of Community Engagement and Outreach approved the request on 11 February 2021, and the donated furniture was rolled out to the deserving beneficiaries.

Nombuso Cindi and Tumelo Mokoena (Unisa employees), Mr Zuma (Principal: KwaPata High School), Mxolisi Mkhize and Sizeni Makhathini (Unisa employees)


Unisa stores more than 4 350 desks and chairs used by students for examination purposes at Biddulphs International in Pietermaritzburg. However, as the university recently opted to change from venue-based examinations to conducting online examinations, Unisa decided to donate its unused furniture to Umlazi District Schools after receiving a donation request.

Mr Nkabini (Principal: Ngobindlovu High School), Mr Mxolisi Mkhize (Acting Regional Service Centre Manager, Unisa) and Mr Ngcobo (Principal: Ngubeni Primary School)

According to Cele, Umlazi District serves 569 schools, comprising a mixture of urban, township, peri-urban and rural schools. The township schools of Umlazi, KwaMakhutha and Chatsworth are severely affected by limited norm and standard allocation and funding, while the rural and peri-urban schools Folweni, KwaMakhutha, Adams, Umkomaas and uMbumbulu remain casualties of past inequalities in terms of resources as well as funding. It is against this background that the Umlazi District Office requested the donation of school furniture in order to assist these cash-strapped communities in their teaching and learning.

Mr Colvelle (Principal: Langalakhe High School) signing the inventory list

Among the schools benefitting from this kind gesture are the Izwi LesiSizwe Primary School, Muzi Tusi Primary School, MehlokaZulu High School, Enkumba Primary School, Langalakhe High School, Ngubeni Primary School, Gobindlovu High School, and Umvoti High School, to name but a few.

Unisa’s kind gesture is a significant contribution to continue to “define tomorrow’s leaders today” as schools and learners will be able to use the furniture for teaching and learning purposes.

* By Mduduzi Ndunakazi, Communication and Marketing Officer, KwaZulu-Natal Region

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Publish date: 2021/03/10

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