After passing Grade 12 at KwaBhekilanga Secondary School in 2010, Mathebula attended youth empowerment and life skills programmes which he said prepared him for his chosen career.
Mathebula described Alexandra as being an environment lacking positive role models for children, and many of the youth were left by parents to fend for themselves. He said Alex only exposed children and youths to many social ills such as taking drugs and committing crimes. The blame was put on the youth but they learnt the bad traits from older generations.
“It leaves us [youth] confused but we still continue wayward behaviour as nothing is offered to help us become better people,” he said.
Mathebula pointed out that schools in the township were only providing children with basic education and were not helping pupils to excel.
“The few sporting entities also provide basic and limited nurturing and mentoring of children with sporting talent,” he said. “They fail to develop them into holistic and better human beings after their sporting careers are over.
“Their support should include after-school studying, provide mentors, internships, nutrition and other assistance to improve the children’s development, access to employment and capacity to cope with all challenges in the future.”
Mathebula hopes to learn discipline and respect in the army. He hopes to become a conscientious person who will protect the country while earning a decent living, with a guaranteed future for himself and his family.
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