Premier’s hands get dirty for 67 minutes

LIMPOPO – PREMIER Stanley Mathabatha rolled up his sleeves to clean, fix and plant vegetables in various institutions in Mogalakwena on Saturday in honour of Mandela Day.
The day was honoured with the theme: “make everyday a Mandela Day; donate 67 minutes of your time and help those in need.”
Together with the MEC for transport, safety and liaison, Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana, the MEC for agriculture and land reform, Joy Matshoge, the Waterberg mayor, Rosina Mogotlane, the acting director-general, Dr Phuti Pheme and the Mogalakwena mayor, Parks Sebatjane, Mathabatha visited various institutions in Mogalakwena.
At Bambanani Old Age Home, Mathabatha and his entourage cleaned and planted vegetables.
They then proceeded to Mathabatha’s former school, Nontshimudi Primary School, where he was welcomed with open arms by former teachers and classmates.
Together they fixed leaking toilet pipes and continued to clean the school yard, read a media statement by the provincial government.
The activities were concluded with a formal programme and learners from Nomalema  and Nontshimudi Primary Schools provided the entertainment for guests.
Mathabatha said: “everything in life is possible, the word impossible only exists in the dictionary of fools. Pain is temporary, but success is permanent”.
He shared his history and past experiences at both schools, and encouraged learners to take education seriously and to be disciplined.
He gave a stern warning to the learners to stay away from drugs, especially nyaope and alcohol as these would destroy their future.
“Children must respect their parents because mothers are never wrong,” he said.
Mathabatha asked the principals of both schools to assist in identifying needy learners so that government could assist them.
The principals were also asked to assist in identifying bright learners, who would be assisted with bursaries to further their studies at institutions of higher learning. “This will be done in an effort to plough back to the community,” Mathabatha said.
The objective of Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in so doing, build a global movement for good.
On behalf of the provincial government, Mathabatha made use of this opportunity to apologise to the people of Mogalakwena for the activities that had transpired in the past.
“We have vowed, as the provincial government, that it will never be allowed again that the responsibility of Mogalakwena be given to councillors who are responsible for the suffering of communities,” Mathabatha concluded.