Former state President Kgalema Motlante visits pupils at Pholosho Junior Secondary School in Alex

School children were encouraged to take their education seriously and to always do their best in everything in order to be victorious in their endeavours and against any challenges they may face now and in the future.

Former State President Kgalema Motlanthe gave this advice to pupils at Pholosho Junior Secondary School. He explained the school was his alma mater in the 50s when he still lived in Alexandra before his family was relocated to Soweto in 1959 during the forced removals by the apartheid regime.

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Motlanthe was speaking at the launch of the book The Story of Kgalema Motlanthe which illustrates education as the foundation of his virtues and values in leadership, selflessness, wisdom and his love of helping others. The book forms part of a series by author Mukanda Mulemfo on African leaders, destined for the classroom. The book is written in story form and contains letters about African systems, traditions and methods of elders dispensing education orally to their children.

Motlanthe, who loathes the demise of this method, said it was essential to revive it in book form to bequeath to the future of the nation an education that resonates with them. It would also give them skills to apply in their interest when faced with challenges. “The method is part of your culture to which you will also contribute as creators and be products of and [can be] used to help improve the quality of life of others,” Motlanthe stressed.

He added that books written from an African perspective added continuity to African children’s learning and comprehension of issues and improved their confidence as well as their articulation of issues. It also nurtured their wisdom and enabled them to exchange with other cultures globally without feeling like lesser human beings.

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Motlanthe further urged the children to learn more about each others’ languages, a practice he said developed his knowledge of many local and regional languages and idioms that incubated his wisdom on life. “It’s important for you to access more books as reading will open your minds. [It will] make you understand the ever-changing global context.”

Quoting from a Mozambican youth’s poem, he urged them to ‘aspire to be men and women of tomorrow and not for tomorrow, to be where you are today’. He also said the Motlanthe Foundation was committed to helping teachers and education authorities to introduce books written by African authors, as part of educating the African child. Copies of the books were distributed to the pupils.

Details: Dr Mukanda Mulemfo 078 562 6807.

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