KARIEGA – A total of 208 pairs of school shoes were handed over last week to the J.N. Tulwana Primary School in KwaNobuhle, Kariega, by Transnet Engineering in partnership with the Transnet Foundation.
The handover ceremony was attended by representatives of the Eastern Cape Department of Education, members of the school governing body (SGB), local TE management led by Alfredo Mopp, executive manager of Manufacturing at the Kariega Plant, representatives of local labour unions, as well as parents of the learners.
The initiative forms part of a nationwide campaign in which Transnet employees were encouraged to contribute by donating school shoes towards the GCE’s Shoes on Feet Campaign. One of the key objectives is to provide school shoes to underprivileged learners across the country.
A TE-specific campaign was rolled out following the launch in October last year, encouraging all employees to participate. The Kariega Plant performed exceptionally well, exceeding its target of 50 pairs by an additional 54 pairs, truly raising the TE flag high in comparison to other operations.
Owing to prevailing socio-economic challenges, many children in South Africa do not have access to proper school shoes. This often forces learners to walk barefoot in harsh conditions, contributing to absenteeism and, in some cases, increased school dropout rates.
Susie Mabe represented the Transnet Foundation at the event.
“The Shoes on Feet Campaign seeks to restore the confidence, pride, and dignity of learners,” she said.
The headmistress of J.N. Tulwana, Thembeka Hini, expressed heartfelt appreciation.
“The school leadership is deeply grateful to Transnet Engineering for these shoes. We highly appreciate this kind and heartwarming gesture, which is truly an investment in the future of our learners.”
Abongile Dlamini of the Department of Education also expressed profound gratitude, describing the occasion as historic.
“These shoes are poised to significantly enhance learner morale and academic performance,” he said.
The learners expressed their excitement and gratitude through song and dance, filling the ceremony with joy and celebration as they thanked Transnet Engineering.
The senior manager of Maritime Business, Xolisani Dyosini, addressed the learners with words of encouragement.
“Look at these shoes; they are a symbol of our belief in you. At Transnet Engineering, we want you to walk tall and dream big. Some of our engineers, technicians, supervisors and artisans once sat in classrooms just like yours. They faced similar challenges, and they want you to know that your current circumstances do not define your destination. We hope that one day you will join us as the next generation of Kariega-born innovators.”
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