At least 300 learners from Mokone Primary School in Langa received new pairs of shoes donated by the Department of Correctional Services from Pollsmoor prison on Thursday 18 July. The department described the donation as part of 67 minutes of celebrating Mandela Day.
Mpumelelo Qalazive, a Head of Community Correction in Cape Town, said Mokone is the one of the schools that the department has adopted. He stated that they have a good relationship with the school.
“Some of our parolees who are on probation will visit the school twice a month to ensure it is clean. We will ensure that there is a food garden to produce food for learners,” said Qalazive.
He said they want to see the learners going to universities not to prisons because there’s an influx of prisoners in prison. Qalazive encouraged the learners to focus on their studies, citing that education is a key to success.
Speaking on behalf of the learners, Natasha Njoti (14) a Grade 8 learner expressed their gratitude to the department for the great initiative, citing that the shoes will make a difference to them.
She said the department’s contribution is not a relief only to the learners but to the parents as well.
She vowed that they will take care of the shoes.
Ward 51 councillor Lwazi Pakade described the learners as future leaders of the country. He said the department’s contribution has brought their dreams closer.
“Correctional Services are no longer prisoners, they are the correctional facilities to change the behaviour of the people to be better human beings. We have witnessed that to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie. He was once a prisoner but today is the leader of society. That is the whole minister that I am talking about,” said Pakade.
He said the shoes will boost the confidence of the learners and will be able to focus more on their studies.
He said Mandela Day mustn’t be the once off thing, but an everyday thing.
School principal Zolile Raphahlelo said they are over the moon and urged other organisations to come forward. He said their partnership with the department means a lot as it brings change to the learners.
“This is a historical event. The event will stay in the learner’s mind for many years. The shoes will change their behaviour and bring dignity to the learners,” explained Raphahlelo.
