At least 129 Mpumalanga schools learners have received uniform from Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe in a two day programme.
Yesterday, 3 October 2013, MEC Shongwe donated the uniform to 59 learners of Ben Matloshe Secondary School in Bushbuckridge. The MEC also donated soccer and netball kits to the school to encourage the learners to participate in sports to prevent them from getting involved into criminal activities.
Today, 22 learners from Siyazi Primary School, 30 from Masizakhe Secondary School and 18 from Mkhomazi Primary School also received the uniform from the MEC.
Ben Matloshe Secondary School is among the schools that were adopted by the MEC in 2010. The MEC adopted the school because of its then low pass rate which has now improved by 100 percent and its condition.
MEC Shongwe said that such donations promote a good relationship between the communities and the department and also provide support to learners who are coming from poor families to study hard.
“These learners are our future, and we have a responsibility as government to ensure that these learners stay away from criminal activities hence providing for their needs. “It becomes even easier for our department to preach the message of school safety because we are not only shouting fear for crime on their ears, but we are humane enough to look out for their needs,” said Shongwe.
One of the schools’ principals, Mr. Matthews Nzimande of Ben Matloshe Secondary School thanked the MEC saying that such donations encourage learners especially those who are coming from poor families to come to school and study hard.
“We have seen a positive impact since the MEC adopted this school. These gifts give hope to our learners and we want to plead for more support even from private businesses as our school still needs more improvement,” said Nzimande.
Meanwhile, Thokozani Cimbi a grade eight learner from Masizakhe Secondary School told the MEC in today’s hand over that there should be continued support from government especially to disadvantaged kids like them as some end up leaving school and get involved in criminal activities because of the hard conditions they are faced with.
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