South Africa has a huge infrastructural backlog when it comes to education and other social services which has forced authorities in some of the provincial departments to resort to innovation to meet the acute shortage.
But a donation of mobile ‘wheelie” school desks that come complete with corporate branding to a rural school in the Western Cape by American fast-food giant McDonald caused a stir, while some hailed the idea as a positive one. In a statement prior to the handover of the desks, the Department of Basic Education said the project was championed through the department’s Rural Education Directorate in partnership with McDonald and MiDesk Global.
But United Democratic Movement (UDM) acting secretary-general, Zandile Phiri, expressed disappointment at the idea. Phiri said the UDM is deeply concerned about the “ill-conceived donation” of foldable school desks. She said the project was a “national embarrassment” and undermined the children’s dignity.
The material was handed over by the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, in partnership with the two companies, to St. Paul’s Primary School in Cape Town’s Bo Kaap, in the Western Cape.
The department hoped the desks would bring joy to the learners of the Bo Kaap school and “give further impetus to the department’s goal of enhancing access, equity and quality in rural schools”. It said through the assistance and innovation of MiDesk Global, the handover of functional desks and chairs, fitted with USB charging ports, will provide relief in rural schools.
The desks are part of Mac’s contribution to school infrastructure shortage in the province. The desks with wheels were designed to enable primary school kids to drag the thing when they go to school and in-between classes at school.
But the fact that the materials came with Mac’s corporate colours, yellow, was even more controversial with some lambasting the company for embarking on “ambush marketing”. The innovative idea has been universally criticised by different political parties and the public in South Africa who stated that McDonald could have done better than it has done to seek to use cheap marketing tactics.
The army of school children are expected to walk around dragging their yellow desks which in many instances they have also got to drag them along when they go home after school which was impractical as some kids used minibus taxis for transport to school. Many primary school kids often got crammed like sardines in one vehicles which was illegal but unpoliced by authorities.
UDM’s Phiri the department was shifting responsibility from the state of providing proper desks to ensure smooth learning at schools. “It is unacceptable that, in 2025, our children are being used as walking advertisements for corporate branding instead of being provided with fully equipped classrooms that uphold their dignity. South African parents and educators have justifiably expressed their outrage over this situation. Rather than ensuring every child has a proper desk in the classroom, the department is celebrating a donation that shifts the responsibility from the government onto the backs of young children – literally,” Phiri said.
These desks are highly impractical, especially given the long distances and challenging roads many children must traverse to get to school. Adding this extra burden is absurd. To make matters worse, it is highly likely that the average child carrying the McDonald’s foldable desk won’t even be able to afford a McDonald’s Kiddies Meal in the first place, she said.
Phiri emphasised: “This situation is a national embarrassment for which Minister Gwarube must take full responsibility. We call on the Government of National Unity to ensure that every child, especially the poorest of the poor, has a desk to sit at when they are at school. Let’s hope this is a one-time failed experiment that is not repeated elsewhere in the country.”
Some resorted to social media saying rather than donate the branded desks, McDonald should have donated burger daily to the school. Many school children in South Africa go to school hungry due to their poor backgrounds and this had forced the state to operate a sponsored nutrition feeding programme for all poor schools. Some schools were declared as ‘no fee schools – meaning were not obliged to pay for school feed due to destitution in the families.
But the initiative was hailed by those who believed it was necessary and a positive contribution to the country’s education. Education activist Hendrick Makaneta hailed Minister Gwarube for collaborating with the private sector to improve the education system.
“We are aware that the minister is facing intense scrutiny for accepting a donation of foldable plastic desks from McDonald’s for Grade 1 learners at St Paul’s Primary school in Cape Town’s Bo Kaap. While some may view this as a positive gesture, others have been quick to criticize the Minister,” Makaneta said.
“However, it’s important to understand that the Minister’s acceptance of this donation should be seen as a positive step towards addressing the infrastructure needs of our schools. The donation of these innovative desks, which can transform into wheelie school bags, demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in supporting our education system,” he said
By accepting this donation, Minister Gwarube was acknowledging the importance of partnerships between the government, private sector, and civil society in driving positive change in our education system. “These partnerships can help address pressing needs, such as inadequate infrastructure, and provide innovative solutions to support teaching and learning,” Makaneta said.
“Minister Gwarube’s acceptance of the donation from McDonald’s should be viewed as a positive step towards supporting our education system. Rather than criticizing the Minister, we should be encouraging more partnerships and collaborations that can help drive positive change in our schools,” he said. – @NewsSA_Online