More than 1 000 school shoes were handed over to three primary schools in Munsieville, Krugersdorp.
Stanlib Direct Property Investments approached Sandton City, Nelson Mandela Square and Eastgate Shopping Centre to assist in purchasing more than 1 000 pairs of school shoes for schoolchildren now, instead of waiting for the start of the new school year.
Maboshadi Lesego Mamathuba, head of the Rutegang Munsieville Youth Organisation and Munsieville community activist, was the driving force behind the project. Munsieville, Diphalane and Phatudi primary schools, were adopted by Mamathuba when she saw the need for new school shoes for the schoolgoers.
Representatives from Sandton City, Nelson Mandela Square and Eastgate Shopping Centre went to Munsieville to hand over all the new school shoes.
Sandton City donated 585 pairs of shoes, Eastgate Shopping Centre donated 393 and Nelson Mandela Square handed over 112 pairs to the respective schools.
Julie Hillary, general manager Sandton City said, “At Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square, we care about the community. We also place a great deal of importance on education so when we heard about the destitute pupils in Munsieville, many of whom walk long distances to school, we knew we had to act immediately to help make their lives a little easier.”
Johan van Belkum, general manager of Eastgate Shopping Centre said, “The plight of the pupils in Munsieville struck a chord in our hearts and we didn’t hesitate to get involved. Buying new school shoes may seem like a small thing but for a number of these children, many of whom have only ever worn hand-me-down shoes, it is a big thing that means a great deal to them.”