President Zuma hosts Annual Children and Youth Christmas party
President Jacob Zuma today, 29 December 2014, hosted the 13th annual Jacob Zuma RDP Education Trust Children and Youth Christmas Party at Mnyakanya High School, KwaNxamalala, Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal.
The event has seen growth over the years, with the Department of Social Development as a key partner and a number of big and small businesses supporting the initiative.
The Trust has educated 24 000 students since its establishment in 1995 and today 70 graduates told their stories of how the bursaries rescued them from difficulties and changed their lives and those of their families.
The Jacob Zuma RDP Education Trust party this year was attended by more than 6 000 children and youth from KwaZulu-Natal and as far as Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. The children received Christmas gifts that included lunch packs, school bags, vanity bags and an undertaking from the South African Social Security Agency to follow up and deliver books to those needy and disadvantaged learners. The children were entertained by their favourite music artists that included Ifani, Sgwili, Andile Majola, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Solly Mahlangu and DJ Cleo.
Echoing the beneficiaries' testimonies, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande said that "what President Zuma does through the Trust, builds on his sterling work that he has done for education since he became President. Government has, under the leadership of President Zuma, increased the money for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme from R3 billion to R9 billion, it has established three new universities and 12 new Further Education and Training colleges are to be built."
Premier Mchunu added that the youth should in addition to their new qualifications, learn two key values from the President, which are humility and listening to all people, regardless of their station in life.
"Every year, we look forward to this day when we do something for the many orphans and children who come from the poorest of backgrounds yet have this thirst for knowledge and education," said President Zuma. There were two stages in a human being that needed the most support, the President added, "it is during when they are children and when they are old. That's why I established both the Senior Citizens' Christmas party and the Children and Youth Christmas party."
"I want to thank all of you beneficiaries for using this opportunity well so that you can uplift your families and the communities as you are doing," the President told the youth beneficiaries.
President Zuma was joined by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu, as well as Premiers from Limpopo, North West and Northern Cape provinces, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene, Defense and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters,Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha, Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana and Deputy Ministers Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu and Obed Bapela as well Brand Ambassador for South Africa Dr Zweli Mkhize and COSATU President Sidumo Dlamini.
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