26 January 2007
The MEC for Social Development Kgaogelo Lekgoro handed out school uniforms
to 248 beneficiaries on Friday, 26 January 2007 as part of the Bana Pele
programme.
In his address the Lekgoro highlighted the important role played by teachers
at schools. "You as teachers are the most important people in society and all
of us who are adults went through school being taken care of by teachers.
Nelson Mandela and OR Tambo also came from these humble beginnings and they
became great people because teachers at some point in their lives played an
important role of taking care of nurturing them," said Lekgoro.
"We are embarking in this programme to hand out school uniforms in order to
give poor children a start so that they are inspired and can one day become
engineers, accountants, artisans and technicians. Our efforts are aimed at
ensuring that the child can receive free education from the Department of
Education, free healthcare from the Department of Health as well as school
nutrition, transport and school uniforms.
"All this is made possible through the Bana Pele programme and is aimed at
poor children on the child support grant database as well as orphaned and
vulnerable children," said Lekgoro.
The MEC also praised the school governing bodies for supporting schools and
encouraged parents to continue to be part of the school system.
Member of Parliament Maggie Maunye, Member of the Provincial Legislature
Sipho Makama, Joburg Metro councillors Joyce Rakitla, Jackie Lekgeto and
Dobsonville Constituency Office members Pat Magubane, Tuis Nkuta, Balfour
Manganye, Norman Ngwedzeni, Wilson Mfaba, Theo Dlamini and Nonceba Molwele
attended the event. Community Development Workers from the area also
attended.
The Gauteng Department of Social Development has already handed out school
uniforms to 13 931 beneficiaries. The school management also informed the MEC
of their problems and he indicated that he will pass them to the relevant
authorities.
The distribution of school uniforms has already benefited children from
schools in Meadowlands, Diepkloof, Alexandra, Atteridgeville, Soshanguve and
other areas around Gauteng.
The programme still continues until the end of January when uniforms would
have been distributed to 18 000 beneficiaries. The programme will continue in
April when school uniforms will be distributed to a further 57 000
beneficiaries.
For more information, please contact:
Fred Mokoko
Tel: (011) 355 7687
Cell: 082 447 8407
Issued by: Department of Social Development, Gauteng Provincial
Government
26 January 2007
Source: SAPA
