The mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, Tania Campbell, and the multi-party coalition have reaffirmed their commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for all learners in Ekurhuleni on January 12.
Campbell made these comments during the provincial government back-to-school campaign in Kwa-Thema when schools reopened.
Campbell and the MMC for Shared and Corporate Services, Ruhan Robinson, accompanied the Gauteng provincial MEC for Finance and e-Government, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, in assessing the reopening of the Kenneth Maselela High School, Lefa Ifa Secondary School and the Kwa-Thema Stimulus Centre.
During the visits, Campbell had the opportunity to engage with principals, teachers, student governing bodies, NPOs and parents. In addition, the engagement served as a platform for the residents to air their concerns about various social and service delivery challenges in the surrounding areas.
“I’m a mother before I am a mayor, and the well-being of learners in the City is top of my priority list.
“It is deeply concerning to hear that underage drinking, drugs and gender-based violence are prevalent among learners today. These social ills manifest as widespread teenage pregnancies and unacceptable school dropout figures,” said Campbell.
“As a multiparty coalition, we are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for learners. We have noted the multiple concerns raised by residents during our visits. Our coalition partners and I have committed to taking action towards resolving these challenges expeditiously.”
The MMC for Health and Social Development, Letta Zitha, and MMC for Human Settlements Alco Ngobese also attended the back-to-school campaign in Duduza and Tsakani, respectively.
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