“It is the first time in their lives to own full school uniforms.”
These were the words of Siyanda Primary School principal, Lindikhaya Golela, after receiving a donation of new school shoes, tunics, pants, carry bags, ties and shirts during the latest round of the annual Back to School campaign by Mnquma Local Municipality.
The school is situated at Yako Informal Settlement, a stone’s throw away from the Butterworth CBD.
The donation given by the municipality benefited 30 learners from the school.
The emotional Golela described a situation so dire that those who did not benefit would try to steal some of the items, which would lead to fighting among the pupils.
Mnquma Local Municipality’s strategic management portfolio head, Councillor Sisa Matutu, and Ward 2 councillor, Nokubonga Magwentshu, urged parents at Siyanda Primary School to ensure that children attend school because education was central to development.
The items were officially handed over to the school on April 14.
On the same day, Mnquma Local Municipality executive mayor, Tunyiswa Manxila-Nkamisa, led another delegation of municipal councillors and officials who were spread across the municipality’s three towns to hand over school uniforms and hygiene packs to needy pupils in schools around Butterworth and Centane.
Manxila-Nkamisa visited Soga Senior Primary School in Ngcizela Village, Centane, where she donated a further 30 uniforms.
Three weeks ago, the local municipality handed over school uniforms to schools in Sezela Primary School in Centane, and Ngqamakwe James Nguza Primary School in Ngqamakwe, as part of its Back to School campaign.
The beneficiaries are identified by the schools working with social workers from the Department of Social Development, with intimate knowledge of their family backgrounds.
