For some months consideration was given to forming a community project that could be a partnership between Timbavati Safari Lodge, visiting guests and the nearby community of Sigagule village. The project needed to benefit as many of the people as possible. Timbavati Safari Lodge conducts a ‘village walk’ for guests to view Sigagule village, talk to the people of the village and take photos. Something needed to be returned to the community for this privilege of viewing their life styles.

^{After watching the guests and the children and looking around the school and later chatting to the guests, the project started to take shape. Sihlekisi School is the only primary school in the area for the children of the Sigagule community and is an ideal candidate for a benefit project that will reach nearly everyone in the community. The people of the area are poor and under privileged, and most families have children at the primary school.}

^{Then on special day, the 25th July 2005 I was accompanied} 

^{by small group of guests, who happened to be professionals}

^{in the field of education and learning, and who had requested}

^{a visit to the school. Those very special guests, who inspired}

^{this project were, Dr. Adrie Visscher, Mr. & Mrs. Mombers}

^{and sons, and Mr. & Mrs. van der Made.}

^{1944 - 1945} 

^{A small school was established near the Mohlogwaneng}

^{river, and so named the Mohlogwaneng School.}

^{The first principal was Mrs Mhlanga.}

^{The school moved to a place near the present day sight and became known as the Sihlekisi primary school.
Being named after Mnisi the tribal ‘nduna’ (a member of the chiefs council) who was an elder in area at that time. The school was a few traditional thatched rooms, and the nearby Lutheran church.
The principal was Mr Maake.}

^{Mr. Macson MATHEBULA became principal of the small school. It was at this time that the principal together with members of the community, and assisted by the traditional chief of the area Mr Phillip MNISI started making bricks and building the older classrooms of the present school.}

^{The electoral commission built four new toilets as the school was used as a voting}

^{station for the historical elections.}

   

^{THE SCHOOL TO-DAY – 2007}

^{The school principal is Mr Macson MATHEBULA, who has been teaching since 1974. The school has 12 teachers, 12 classrooms, and 394 children attending the school. A teacher to learner ratio is of 1:33 and about 35 children per classroom.}

^{The school starts at grade R (aged about 5 years old) through to Grade 7 (aged about 10-13 years old).}

^{The school has an elected School Governing Body made up of parents and 2 teachers.}

^{The chairman is Mr Jack Mashaba, vice chairman Mr.Wilson Sithole, and treasurer Mrs Ndobe.}

^{The annual school fees are R60 per child. This money is used for school maintenance and repairs. These repairs are done by some of the parents. The Department of Education pays for teachers, books and chalk.}

^{The Department of Health supplies basic food items for cooked lunches for the learners. This is cooked by teams of parents.}

^{Our banking details are:}