On 29 July 2011, Deputy Minister Dina Pule visited her home area of Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga province as part of Mandela Month.
The purpose of this visit was to emulate the spirit of Madiba and his teachings on humility and empathy. She donated full sets of uniforms to learners at her former high schools and met face to face with both learners and teachers for dialogue around the material challenges they are faced with on a daily basis. Challenges such as shortage of desks, chairs and other learning aids such like computers were identified; the schools general infrastructures need upgrading as well as renovations.
The Deputy Minister observed that despite all these glaring challenges, the learners are very enthusiastic and determined in their endeavour to get an education and regard it as a means to a bright future for them and their families. She commended the dedication of the Educators together with the schools management and encouraged them to carry on with their important work of educating the nation.
Details of schools visited are as follows:
1. Shanke High School, Orckley, Bushbuckridge
Time: 10h00
2. Chayaza High School, Mkhuhlu, Culcuta in Bushbuckridge
Time: 12h00
On Saturday, 30 July 2011, accompanied by the Executive Mayor of Emalahle, Councillor Salome Sithole, Ms Pule continued her crusade by officially handing over two houses to two families, namely, Mabaso and Gama families, in the Vosman Township of Emalahleni which were donated by local businessman Mr Jacob Mnisi and others. She also donated blankets and groceries to these households to help them as a start-up in the comfort of their new houses. Emalahleni is where her Parliamentary Constituency Office is situated.
She encouraged other business people to emulate the examples of Mr Mnisi and his associates; she urged them to make a difference in lives of people less fortunate as them by ploughing back and partnering with government to create a better life for all our people.
The Vosman community was encouraged by Deputy Minister Pule to take pride in their houses by keeping them clean, beautifying them through planting trees and starting food gardens in their yards. She called upon them to look after each other and as neighbours and root out criminals by reporting them to the police. She reminded them that the local ward councillor cannot do everything by herself but is there to support them in any positive initiatives they undertake towards the betterment of their community.
She ended her Saturday tour by visiting the youth of the Church of Warriors for Christ in KwaGuqa where she spoke to them at length on the youth of 1976, young people today, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and her role as Deputy Minister in The Presidency. She also put lots of emphasis on the importance of education.
The Deputy Minister was accompanied by Actor Sello Maake ka Ncube and Actor/Director Neo M Matsunyane throughout her visit in Emalahleni. They both participated as programme directors and motivational speaker’s at all three events.
Media statement on Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Ms Dina Pule's Mandela Month visit in Mpumalanga
