The Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) and Leleti’s Schoolgrounds, launched last week at JL Dube at KwaMashu, north of Durban was received with warm hands by learners and communities of Eastwood Secondary School in Pietermaritzburg today.
Leleti’s Schoolgrounds is part of Operation Sukuma Sakhe which is the provincial government initiative based on government assisting communities to rise beyond their current circumstances.
Leleti’s Schoolgrounds is designed to help young people to stand up and build. Addressing learners who were over the moon Ms Leleti Khumalo who is the ambassador of the initiative said that - “We are here to listen to you. We brought you all the government departments to give you answers. But on the same token we would also like to encourage young people to stand up and do things for themselves and come up with solutions so that the government can meet us half way” said Leleti.
The learners used the opportunity given to them to engage the government on pertinent issues that are affecting them directly in their lives. Issues raised by learners varied from issues surrounding teenage pregnancy, substance abuse and financial assistance towards further education.
Thulani Mhlongo (Not a real name to protect the child), a learner, threw down a gauntlet to the government and the Leleti initiative to come up with a strategy to teach parents at home about substance abuse, because the school have programmes in place but most learners go back home to parents who have the substance abuse problem.
Giving keynote address at the launch KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for Finance Ms Ina Cronjé who is the Champion MEC for uMgungundlovu District Municipality said that “For too long, communities have been stuck in first gear. We are going to turn this skoro-skoro into a racing car. But we have to push together if we were to win the race against poverty, unemployment and all social ills of alcohol and drug abuse, teenage pregnancies an HIV/AIDS. The government is moving service delivery for young people in this area into a top gear. I am happy to engage with learners, teachers and communities about the issues that lie close to their hearts. Our engagement does not end here, we will follow up on your issues” said Cronjé.
This visit also marked the official launch of Eastwood (ward 34) War Room. MEC Cronjé officially launched the War Room, in a bid to ensure government visibility at household level.
“Each household will be profiled and the various departments and the various role players will assist the household members with their respective needs” said Cronjé.
Today marked the beginning of the Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) and Leleti’s School Grounds which will continue and cover all eleven district of the province.
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MEC Cronjé successfully launched the Leleti Schoolground campaign at uMgungundlovu District today
Province
