MTN South Africa has officially handed over a newly established computer laboratory to Stanger Training Centre KwaDukuza. The handover, which took place on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, forms part of MTN’s Universal Service Obligations Schools Project.
Stanger Training Centre, situated in the historic KwaDukuza town, supports children with diverse special educational needs and has long been a place of care and stability for families. KwaDukuza, known for its deep cultural heritage as the former seat of King Shaka, is a community rooted in identity, resilience and shared history. For many families in the area, education remains the most important pathway to progress and long‑term opportunity.
Through the Universal Service Obligations Schools Project, MTN has established 140 computer labs in schools for children with special educational needs across South Africa. These schools are allocated by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), with technical requirements prescribed as part of the regulatory mandate.
At Stanger Training Centre, MTN ensured that the classroom housing the new lab was properly prepared for learners by deploying state of the art digital education technology tools and carrying out essential refurbishment work. This included restoring the space through painting, replacing worn furniture with practical desks and chairs, improving safety with burglar bars and an alarm system, and installing air conditioning to create a comfortable environment. These improvements make it possible for learners to engage meaningfully with digital tools in a safe and dignified setting.
Reflecting on MTN’s broader commitment to education, Busi Dlamini, General Manager: Regional Operations, KwaZulu‑Natal, said:
“MTN South Africa proudly serves millions of people across the country, and our future is fundamentally linked to theirs. Establishing this multimedia centre is not only about meeting a regulatory requirement – it is about investing in one of the most powerful enablers of national development. Meaningful, long‑term progress begins where young people learn and are supported to thrive. That is why MTN continues to prioritise safe, dignified and well‑resourced learning environments, and why we remain committed to driving this work with purpose and intent.”
For the learners at Stanger Training Centre, many of whom face challenges not immediately visible to the broader public, the new multimedia centre offers a space where imagination, confidence and creativity can flourish. Their excitement on entering the room for the first time demonstrated the profound impact that an accessible, thoughtfully prepared learning environment can have on a child’s sense of possibility.
The dedication of teachers and support staff at the centre continues to be central to its success. Their commitment to nurturing each learner’s potential ensures that the value of the new multimedia centre will extend far beyond technology. MTN is committed to support their work by providing tools that open new avenues for learning, expression and inclusion.
As MTN fulfils its regulatory responsibilities, the organisation remains focused on a broader national purpose: supporting a future in which no learner is left behind. The opening of the multimedia centre at Stanger Training Centre stands as a reaffirmation of hope, dignity and opportunity for the children, families and community it serves.