Thanksgiving and reunion at Padi Primary
Planning for the thanksgiving event started in August 2023.
Former learners of Padi Primary School in Modderdam hosted a Thanksgiving and reunion ceremony on 9 March 2024 to pay tribute to the former educators for their role in shaping the farming community’s children into better citizens.
Some past pupils pursue professional careers, while others are self-employed business people and community leaders like pastors, thanks to their schooling at Padi.
They honoured the former principal, Mrs Catherine Scheepers, and their teachers, Mrs Stoky Suping, Mr Nature Digwamaje, Mr Malandela Sibiya, Mrs Tshidi Letshabo, and the late Mrs Grace Motshabi-Sekhute and Ms Thekiso. They also honoured the current principal, Mrs Mantwa Buti.
All the above teachers, except Mr Sibiya and the current principal, are retired. Mr Sibiya is currently a paramedic.
The former learners honoured these teachers in various ways, including with gifts.
Dr Reverend TJ Mofamere, presiding minister of the Ikageng congregation of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), delivered the keynote address under the theme, “A great teacher is not the one who supplies most facts, but the one in whose presence we become different people”.
Under the leadership of the chairperson, Mr Mzwandile Sindwa, the organiser, Thandi Jack, and others, the former learners have planned this event since August 2023.
