VANDERBIJLPARK- Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner of Police, made a significant donation to Vanderbijlpark Hoërskool as part of the School Safety Project.
The donation included sports gear, chess boards, and various equipment, with the aim of utilizing sports and other activities to deter school learners from engaging in criminal activities.
The event, held at the school hall, saw Mawela surrounded by numerous dignitaries, including Sedibeng District Commissioner Major General Nkhensani Lemba, and sponsors such as Build It and Sanlam.
Representatives from the Gauteng Arts and Culture Department, Emfuleni Local Municipality, and officials from the Gauteng Department of Education in the Sedibeng District were also present to show their support.
The official program was marked by various performances, including poems recited by Basetsana Thinane.
Excitement filled the air as students lined up to face off in a chess challenge, highlighting the focus on both sports and intellectual activities.
Addressing the attendees, Alex Sepeng, responsible for the corridor of Sports, Arts, and Culture in the Sedibeng District, emphasized the commitment to assisting the school not only with sports apparel but also with arts and culture needs.
“We are available to assist the school. As much as we are going to be providing sports apparel, we will also support your arts and culture programs. The school has to decide what they need and what they can manage because if we give, we expect proper management of those donations. We are going to donate rugby, soccer, and netball apparel,” he said.
GDE District Director Themba Maseko delivered a message of support, underscoring the importance of transforming the lives of students from grade R to 12.
He mentioned that Vanderbijlpark Hoërskool, as the first high school built in the area, holds a special place in their efforts to improve education.
He also hinted at the school’s potential transformation into a Sports School of Specialization (SOS) due to its existing infrastructure.
General Lemba introduced Mawela and shared her insights during the proceedings.
She emphasized the South African Police Service’s commitment to keeping learners occupied and fit, adding, “It is our responsibility to keep them fit, and by giving them these apparels, we are doing just that.”
In his keynote address, Mawela acknowledged the principal’s description of the school’s current condition and stressed the need to revive its former glory.
He said, “We are in Vaal, and this area used to be renowned for its talent. We should not let the potential within this school go to waste. The principal mentioned some of the greatest rugby players who came from this school; we must continue the legacy.”
Mawela further revealed that Vanderbijlpark Hoërskool was the 12th school they had visited that year, and he expressed his hopes for the students of 2023 to leave their mark on the school’s Wall of Fame.
