KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance / Operation Sukuma Sakhe uThukela District Champion Nomusa Dube-Ncube today (August 20) handed over school uniforms and laptops to 150 needy pupils at three different schools in the district. Dube-Ncube was living up to her pledge made earlier this year to assist needy people at these three schools, who were identified during a school functionality programme.
50 students at each school received uniforms, which included shoes and sanitary towel packs. The learners are from Umbango Secondary School (under Alfred Duma Local Municipality), Wembezi Secondary School (under Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality) and Nsetheni Primary School (under Ukhahlamba Local Municipality).
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Dube-Ncube, who was represented at the event by uThukela District Mayor Siphiwe Mazibuko, said it was important that the dignity of an African child be restored and nurtured at all times.
“This can be achieved by always ensuring that children have the necessary uniform, as this increases confidence in a child. Apart from school uniforms, which play a big role in building confidence in a young person, we also understand that a child has to attend school having eaten in order to concentrate in class. While the government has the important National School Nutrition Programme, we want schools to supplement this by having a vegetable garden and fruit trees,” she said.
Njabulo Mbhele from Nsetheni Primary School in Bergville, who has two other siblings attending the same school, could not hold back the tears, saying he was looking forward to wearing his uniform on Monday. “I live with my mother and grandmother, who cannot afford it. This will assist the family, as my other siblings will also benefit. We come from a struggling family,” he said.
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