MEC Ramadwa donates shoes to pupils

During the handing over of school shoes are, from left to right, Cllr Lindiwe Mokgale, Judge Joesph Raulinga, MEC Merriam Ramadwa, Thovhole-Vho-Rudzani Sinthumule and Mr George Budzwa with some of the pupils who received school shoes.

MEC Ramadwa donates shoes to pupils

“These are our children, brothers, sisters and future leaders of this country”, MEC for Sport Arts and Culture Mrs Merriam Ramadwa said at the official handing over of schools shoes to three schools around Madombidzha.

The event took place at the Makhado Christian Centre on Tuesday. She presented shoes to disadvantaged learners of three schools around Madombidzha, Tshilwavhusiku, Petamukanda and Madombidzha primary. She said she dreaded seeing children going to school barefoot.

“I know what it is like to go to school without support. I know how painful it is to be teased by other pupils for not having the necessary uniform,” she added. She also mentioned that some pupils were not dropping out because of laziness but from pressure and self-denial for not having a complete school uniform.

The chairperson of the Sinthumule/Kutama Development Forum, Judge Joseph Raulinga, said the forum started many years ago with the aim of helping disadvantaged pupils whose parents cannot provide sufficiently. "Our area is one of the poorest areas in the province, and if we do not do something for our learners, some can end up dropping out of school," he said.

Thovhele-Vho-Rudzani Sinthumule could not hide his happiness. He said it was good to be receiving from one of the residents. “We are very grateful for what Ramadwa has done today," he said. He told the pupils to count themselves lucky to be receiving the uniforms as learners at other schools were attending school in torn uniforms.

He urged businesspeople from the area to follow in Ramadwa´s footsteps and pleaded with the pupils to look after their uniforms and also to study hard.

The MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mrs Merriam Ramadwa, helps one of the pupils to put on his new shoes.

Date:06 December 2013

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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