DE DEUR – Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela visited New Hope Secondary School in De Deur on Friday, 23 June 2023 to hand over sports apparel and chess boards.
Mawela was joined by various stakeholders including the Department of Education, Arts, and Culture, the School Governing Body, and Metropolitan who sponsored the donation.
Among other involved participants were Gauteng Community Policing Board, Sedibeng District Junior Commissioner, and Midvaal’s Junior Mayor.
The initiative formed part of the province’s safer schools programme that seeks to use sports to prevent kids and the youth from being involved in criminal activities.
Teacher and sports master Mandlenkosi delivered the purpose of today’s event where the Provincial Commissioner of Police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela together with various stakeholders will be handing over a chess board and sports gear to learners.
“We are all aware it’s youth month, we as New Hope and all stakeholders said we need to bring awareness to the youth that drugs are not an option. The purpose is to say, a healthy mind lies in a healthy body. What you have is a talent you can use to live with,” he said.
While many were hyped up with the donation, the School Governing Body Samuel Motloung raised some issues faced by the school, including finding a title for the land they using.
“At New Hope, we are an open book. When you enter the gates, you see our needs. These classes (pointing at temporary structures) are not conducive, we need new buildings. This land doesn’t belong to us, we would be happy to get a title deed that belongs to us,” he said.
Sharing joy as sponsors of the event, Matshidiso Ntsana from Metropolitan said “When we were contacted by SAPS about this initiative, we didn’t hesitate to come on board since it’s youth month. This is a school that needs sponsors, young in this school are determined to learn. We are celebrating 125 years of milestones and we are privileged to be part of this.”
Ntsana said the donation is the beginning of many more projects to be implemented.
“This is the beginning of the partnership with the school. The relationship has started and we will not turn back. Whatever the school needs, we will be there for them,” she said.
Midvaal Local Municipality Mayor Peter Texiera said “Mine is to appreciate as the mayor for everything done by all stakeholders. It is important that we must have our young people involved in extra mutual activities. When they patriciates in sports they get to be far from the social ills. I’m calling that the general must come more often.”
Mawela gave a keynote address before the entourage of dignitaries took a walk about at the school. He later played chess head to head with Mayor Texiera.
