Male matric learners given guidance on how to be a gentleman

“Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world.”

These words uttered by the late Nelson Mandela became the words most uttered by the speakers at the Tertiary Toolkit Seminar.

This initiative was hosted by Emalahleni Housing Company (EHC) at Witbank High School hall on Friday, April 20.

The event was aimed at motivating matric boys to perform well academically in preparation for life after high school.

The event had at least 300 boys in attendance from various high schools in the coal city such as Old Coronation, Greendale, Witbank High, Kopanang, Elukhanyisweni, Zacheus Malaza, Allandale, Ilanga, TP Sililo to mention some of them.

Pastor Kobedi Jackson Ramateletse opened with prayer and gave brief yet encouraging words of inspiration.

Keynote speakers were prominent and successful businessmen from Emalahleni including the Chief Executive Officer of EHC, Mr George Xaba; Mr Thulani Sibanyoni, the Managing Director of Masibuyisane Services; Mr Oskin Usinga, principal of Witbank High School and Enock Mudau, head of sport at TUT eMalahleni campus.

Xaba’s theme was ‘Do not be a man, be a gentleman’ he outlined characteristics of being a gentleman which are: class and honour.

Sibanyoni’s theme was ‘My future is in my hands’. He spoke about how he was raised by a single parent but because he knew what he wanted in life he succeeded.

“We must ask ourselves, what do I represent, what do people see in me, you need to refuse to be ordinary, refuse to dream small, your circumstances do not define you, your future is in your hands, start with the end in mind and choose what you want to be,” said Sibanyoni.

Mudau touched on sport bursaries available at the institution.

He spoke about how sport changed and shaped his life.

“With sport in my life I became a man of value.”

Usinga’s theme was

“What makes a model student”.

Witbank High’s principal expressed how grateful he was that learners could have this seminar.

“To go up in life you have to give up certain things, if it is friends then so be it. You are powerful therefore you must use your power in useful things. Focus on education. Remember success is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration,” Usinga motivated.

The vote of thanks was rendered by each Head Boy of each school, one of them being Skhumbuzo Mabena, Zacheus Malaza’s Head Boy.

He thanked all the speakers and hoped his peers will live by what was preached on the event.

The seminar was the first of its kind done by EHC.

It was aimed at inspiring the learners to take their education seriously and to excel in every area of their lives.