Zululand Accommodation, Zululand Weddings, Zululand Functions, Zululand Hotel, Zululand Bed and Breakfast

Our Social Programmes

history

Links between the Rutherfoord family, the Ghost Mountain Inn and Mtwazi Combined School go back to the early 60’s when Roy Rutherfoord helped build the original Mtwazi School, a couple of years before building the Ghost Mountain Inn in 1962.

The school has grown tremendously over the past few years and 2007 saw the first year that the school had its first Matric (Final year) class. There are currently 860 learners squeezed into a school that was originally built for a lot fewer people and despite the addition of a new classroom wing a few years ago there is still need for additional classrooms and more importantly operation equipment. In 2006 the Ghost Mountain Inn decided to focus its social responsible programs on Mtwazi.

quick facts

In 2007 the school had to find space for its first Matric class. Either the grade 3’s would move into one class (103 pupils) or the grade 0’s would be taught under a tree. Finally it was decided to build classroom which has now put the school into debt R125,000.

The original school block is in desperate need of renovation and ideally we need to build another block and a computer room

There are only 232 desks in the school for 860 learners – 3.7 pupils per desk and some pupils bring their own chair from home to school. We would like to see a desk for each pupil.

Being a poverty stricken area parents struggle to pay the R70 (US$10) annual school fee, let alone the R295 (US$42) cost of a uniform that is obligatory for all pupils.

HIV/AIDS is having a devastating effect in an area with one of the highest infection rates in South Africa. Besides children dying many children have lost both parents and so are being cared for by siblings and in some cases the primary care giver is also a pupil at the school.

school fund

• Is administered by representatives of Mtwazi Combined School, Ghost Mountain Inn and the Rutherfoord family
• Is run separately from the school or hotel accounts and the books are open for all to see
• Donations can be allocated to a specific project by the donor or go into the general fund with will be allocated by the committee.

To arrange a visit to the school or if you would like more information on the project please contact:

• Jean Toucher
• Safari Manager
• safari@ghostmountaininn.co.za

bank details

additional projects

recycling

A hotel generates a lot of recyclable materials and instead of filling up landfill sights a recycling program has been instituted. The school is also assisting in collecting material and any money raised in selling off recyclables is added to the School Resource fund. There are sadly a number of obstacles to running this type of program in rural areas. Despite it being so crucial to the conservation of our environment there is a lack of municipal infrastructure to assist in recycling programs. All material has to be carted 150km to Richards Bay or 300km to Durban depending on the type of material. Funding is currently being sought for the building of a collection center in Mkuze that can collect enough material to make the project more viable.