A brand new library is a major step forward for Erasmus Monareng Secondary School in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg, as it will assist learners with improved reading and comprehension skills.
The library, donated by Hyundai Automotive South Africa in partnership with DP World and Motus Community Trust, is designed to be more than just a building but a hub of imagination, learning and exploration for young learners. The school currently has a total of 1,700 learners.
Today’s ceremony coincided with Hyundai Automotive South Africa’s 25-year anniversary of operating in South Africa and reinforces the company’s ongoing commitment to creating a legacy of empowering the youth and communities.
Hyundai Automotive South Africa has made education the central focus of its empowerment philosophy, recognising that giving communities access to knowledge has a far more lasting impact. To date, the company has established 23 community libraries, each designed to inspire curiosity, learning and opportunity for young people.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Stanley Anderson, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa emphasised the transformative power of education. “Vehicles can move people from one place to another but education moves entire communities forward. It builds futures, opens doors and plants seeds that grow into generations of empowered individuals. Education is the legacy we want to leave in this community of Vosloorus,” said Anderson.
The library is a welcome addition to Erasmus Monareng Secondary. Acting Principal Mbongiseni Hadebe said: “Our school faces serious infrastructure challenges but despite this, our educators remain dedicated and continue to give their best. The library will enhance the offering to learners.”
He said the school is recognised as a fully-fledged ICT school, meaning that “most of our classrooms are equipped with smart boards and teachers use both digital tools and hard copies of textbooks to enhance learning.”
Anderson underscored the value of teachers in shaping future leaders. “Every profession in the world has been influenced by teachers,” he told learners. “Listen to them, respect them and allow them to nurture your growth.”
“At Hyundai Automotive South Africa, supported by the DP World and Motus Community Trust, we are committed to supporting your journey and for those of you who have a passion or interest in joining us upon completing your tertiary studies, our doors are open,” he added.
Impact of the New Library
Hadebe said the new library is a major step forward for Erasmus Monareng Secondary. “Over the years, we have noticed that many learners, especially in languages, struggled with reading and writing. Some could not read their own work, which also affected their performance across different subjects.”
Grade 11 learner Relebogile Nakeng said she has tried studying in various places, including local eateries but that the conditions were not always conducive. She said she was filled with excitement and appreciation at having a new school library. “The idea of having a space where I can study properly and also have access to various types of books makes me extremely happy.”
Hadebe said that despite the varied challenges, the school has performed consistently well academically, averaging around an 80% matric pass rate for the past five years.
“For 2025, we have 266 Grade 12 learners and our goal is to reach a 95% pass rate,” he said. “One of our proudest moments was when one of our learners achieved 100% in Mathematics, proof that excellence can come from anywhere, even township schools.”
Silent
Exports: South Africa ranks 37th out of 192 countries in the Economist’s “Biggest Exporters” Index 2016. This is clearly the market aspiring South African business owners need to get into!