Programme Director and Acting District Director Mr. AF Mdaka;
Executive Mayor of Nkomazi Local Municipality, Cllr. Thulisile Khoza;
Chairperson of the SGB, Ms. Thandi Mashaba;
Our Benefactor, Ms. Badanile Zulu (Make Zuka);
Members of Senior Management;
Circuit Manager;
School Principal;
Departmental Officials;
Parents and Learners.
Sanibonani I am always well pleased and excited to be amongst teachers and learners who value education and learner attainment. I want to tell you that I derive such joy and emotions as I visit Lambalati secondary school. I am happy to visit your school as my stopover is to affirm and celebrate good achievement and excellence.
Acknowledge the Good Work Done by Nkomazi Municipality
I am reminded of the philosophical words of Ogden Marsh when he says, "If you don't want to work, you have to work hard so that you can earn enough money so that you won't have to work." This statement resonates well with the concept of planning and following through with implementation as done by the greater Nkomazi school communities and Lambalati Secondary School in particular. Your results over the years have shown some evidence of your commitment to better learner attainment and excellence in education delivery. In that regard, we want to thank the Executive Mayor of Nkomazi Local Municipality, Cllr. Thulisile Khoza, for the sterling job that she has done in leading from the front ensuring that educational matters take priority in the municipality.
To this effect, the Nkomazi Local Municipality has for two consecutive years been declared the Overall Best Municipality following the 2014 Grade 12 results after obtaining 86.0 percent pass rate, an increase of 0.4 percent from the 2013 results. We are quite aware that the support that the Executive Mayor has received from civil society and the greater community at large is very crucial. We want to encourage this great display of working together and urge you to work even more closely to improve on the current results. As the Mpumalanga Department of Education, we are proud to be associated with the people of Nkomazi who saw it fit to initiate intervention strategies to advance the course of excellent education delivery in the municipality. These interventions are having some good effect on education delivery and we want to express our appreciation to every one involved.
We walk tall because the very concept of school and circuit patrons was conceptualised in this area with overwhelming support from the local business people. Let me be upfront and tell you that we are overjoyed that this concept has mushroomed all over the country and many communities are benefitting as a result. The light that was lit in Nkomazi has now raged all over the country and for that Nkomazi has earned a place in the books of history. It is also interesting to know that Nkomazi is not known for educational matters only.
Executive Mayor, let us congratulate you, your council and the citizenry of Nkomazi for obtaining second runner up in the Greenest Municipality Competition with a prize money of R2.5 Million on 28 January 2015. We are proud of your dedication and excellent work on all front and we are really behind you in terms of support.
Lambalati's performance
It thus came as no surprise to us that Lambalati Secondary School obtained 91.8% in the 2014 Grade 12 results. 134 learners wrote and 123 passed. 45 learners obtained Bachelors requirement and 48 obtained Diploma requirements within the 2014 Grade 12 examination. We are also inspired by the ability of the school to translate its mission and vision into a workable programme that produces such results. We know that this vision has long lasting effects of providing a wellbalanced education to produce disciplined and responsible learners through effective teaching and learning, effective management and control in all spheres of school life.
Donation of school uniforms
It gives me pleasure to inform you that I am not here alone but have brought with me one of the unsung heroines of our province and nation, Ms. Badanile Zulu, popularly known as Make Zuka. She is a great lady who has dedicated her life in ensuring that learners face their school work without the burden of worrying about what to wear and what to eat. Make Zuka collects five cents from communities to buy school uniform and food parcels for needy learners. Her work and generosity has benefitted hundreds of learners all over the province and it is an honour to be around her. She is here to donate twenty sets of full school uniform to deserving learners at Lambalati. There could be no greater gift one can give to a learner than a gift that ascertains the completion of the learner's school work. This gift from Make Zuka comes with blessings from God and all will be well with who ever receives it as she gives straight from her heart. Make Zuka, we are proud of you. May you grow and prosper as you carry on with your good work. Thank You.
Participation in the SGB elections
The importance of school governance and the roles of parents at this level cannot be over-emphasised. The South African Schools Act states that schools should be governed by members of the parent body which a democratically elected. The year 2015 is our elective year for SGB in all our public schools. The elections are taking place in March and I want to urge the community of Nkomazi and the whole province to participate in these elections.
Parents and guardians are invited to exercise their democratic right by electing capable candidates who will play a meaningful role in the education of their children by ensuring that Learning and Teaching runs smoothly in all the schools. To ensure that the elected candidates carry out their roles and responsibilities with accuracy, the Department will conduct training sessions where they will be capacitated in all areas of school governance. These are your schools and your children are learners at these schools. Please show that you care and take part in these elections.
Conclusion
My children, take note that the motto of your school states that “The sky is the limit”. This alone encourages you to think beyond the horizon and not limit yourself in your future endeavours. Take advantage of the lessons and the time that your educators having dedicated towards your education, and if you religiously do this, you will truly succeed.
Ngiyabonga.
