Mogalakwena Municipality and Eskom put their best foot forward
Learners at Johannes Masibe Primary School in Mashatlheng Village, Mapela, are 60 pairs of school shoes, school bags and stationery richer after a donation by the two stakeholders.
Photos: Supplied
MOKOPANE – The burden of children walking to school barefoot every morning to assure a better future has finally made lighter after the Mogalakwena Municipality and Eskom put their best foot forward.
Learners at Johannes Masibe Primary School in Mashatlheng Village, Mapela, are 60 pairs of school shoes, school bags and stationery richer after a donation by the two stakeholders.
It is a sad truth that many school learners must walk long distances to school every morning and afternoon without shoes to protect their feet.
With the winter in our midst, it is a necessity to keep our feet warm. Limpopo Eskom decided to donate school shoes and bags as part of their CSI initiative. The money used to buy these items was raised by Eskom employees in the aim to restore dignity to these underprivileged learners and to make a difference in their lives.
Mogalakwena Mayor, Cllr Adrina Matsemela, graced the event last Friday with her presence and appreciated Eskom’s efforts of contributing towards the upliftment of the learners and community.
Matsemela said the municipality has taken a determined decision to change the face of education in Mogalakwena as this will be a continuous programme in partnership with the Department of Social Development and local business people who are willing to assist the ‘Bana Pele’ (Putting Children First) programme.
“We are proud to expand the Bana Pele programme to schools in far-flung areas as well as those in townships. Education is a societal issue and we have taken a decision to play our part as social development to ensure that our learners go to school well dressed and presentable. We are thankful for Eskom’s contribution.”
Bana Pele is a Mogalakwena Municipality initiative with a broader vision of making Mogalakwena a municipality ‘fit for children’ by ensuring that vulnerable and orphaned children between the ages of 0-18 years are able to access an integrated package of services through a single window.
“Our municipality wants to continue working with schools to identify other areas that need government intervention. We rely on teachers to give us information on all matters concerning the education of our children hence we embarked on donating school uniforms.”
More than 150 learners benefitted from the programme. The uniform package included a pair of shoes, shirt, socks, trousers and skirts for girls. “We are planning to add with school jerseys and track suits. We want to play a role in changing the lives of our children by hook or crook. We will come back to this school and hand over school uniforms to the needy learners,”Matsemela concluded.
Eskom Customer Relations manager, Hilton Rampedi, thanked Eskom employees for their contribution. Eskom also encourages it’s customers to continue reporting all those involved in electricity theft by sending anonymous SMS tip-offs to 32211. SMS’s costs R 1.
