Langa Library unveils its final phase upgrades

Image: Free Digital Photos

Since 2011, Regiments Capital, whose executive chairman, Litha Nyhonyha, was a Langa resident in his youth, has invested more than R900 000 in refurbishing, modernising and equipping Langa Library to be able to offer a wide range of vital educational and knowledge-building services to thousands of residents of Langa and other nearby areas of the Cape Peninsula.

The final stage of the upgrade focuses on the development of the library's juvenile section, complementing other equipment and facilities that have installed in the new-look library, which now also has a computer centre. Over 3000 books have been donated to the library over the past three years.

"To mark this final stage of the upgrade, we will also be holding a Christmas party for children, which will be a fitting way for us to complete our sponsorship of the library," said Rayhana Erasmus, Regiments Capital's marketing and communications officer.

"Upgrading the Langa Library has been our main corporate social investment focus since 2011 and we are extremely pleased with the results of the project, which benefits so many people including school learners, teenagers, young adults and the elderly."

Noticeable impact

According to Erasmus, the impact on the community has been noticeable and highly effective and will have long-lasting advantages for the people of Langa and surrounding areas.

"While we are sad to have come to the end of this very satisfying project, it is time for us to move on to our next CSI initiative, which will focus on adopting a new school in Joburg," said Erasmus.

Through Regiments Capital's investment and involvement, the Langa library is now fully stocked with a wide variety of reference books, children's books, newspapers, magazines and other reading materials that one would expect to find in a functional modern library.

Importantly, programmes hosted by the library, specifically reading, have contributed to significant results within the local community and schools. The Langa district participated in a reading competition last year and won both the inter-district and district competitions in English and Xhosa.

In addition, the library also runs initiatives that are aimed at educating the community on how to sustain themselves as entrepreneurs, a sentiment that lies at the heart of Regiments Capital's own business and its values.

Smart Cape Centre

Extremely important for the local community is the Smart Cape Centre which can be accessed at the library - this enables community members to use facilities to develop CVs, seek employment and use the Internet to further themselves. Many of the locals rely on this service and provide regular feedback as to how it has made a difference in their lives.

"As an organisation, we are passionate about education and about enabling South Africa to become more of a knowledge-based economy. We are also committed to uplifting communities and assisting them to improve their circumstances so that they can fully participate in and contribute to socio-economic development in our country," said Erasmus.