30 August 2023
His Worship the Mayor of the Harry Gwala District Municipality, Cllr. Zamo Nxumalo, today (30 August 2023), started a campaign of visiting rural schools and in process donating uniforms as part of an initiative to encourage learners from these schools to focus and resist any influences that seek to dissuade them from pursuing their education. Today, the Mayor was at the uBuhlebezwe and Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Local Municipalities, tomorrow two more schools at uMzimkhulu and Kokstad will be visited through this initiative.A total amount of R100 000 has been allocated for the school uniforms drive and each school visited recieves uniforms worth R25 000. Schools which were visited today are Ngcesheni Primary in the Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Municipality, and Sangcwabe Primary in the uBuhlebezwe Municipality (eXobho). Tomorrow Nomzamo Primary and Summerfield Schools under uMzimkhulu and Kokstad will be visited, and will also benefit from the school uniforms. In this project Mayor Nxumalo, was accompanied by Kokstad businessman, Mr. Meshack Ndongeni from the Masiqhame Trading 22.He was also accompanied by the uBuhlebezwe Municipality Mayor, Bathobile Ngubo and the Speaker of the Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Municipality, Cllr. Sfiso Phoswa. Mayor Nxumalo said it is important that rural schools get all the necessary support and that learners get encouragement and motivation to attain impressive levels of education.“It important to us as a government that rural schools get the necessary support and encouragement. We want to see Mayors and Ministers coming from these rural schools. We thought it would be important that we visit all four of our local municipalities and identify schools that support with uniforms. By coming here we want our learners to know that we support them and we want them to be educated. Imperatively we want them to keep on coming to school and to dream big about their future," said Mayor Nxumal. This government, the Mayor added, is concerned about the well-being of learners, that is the District has decided to visit schools during the year and not wait for January, Mr Ndongeni who is a farmer, said he had a difficult upbringing especially when his father died while he was seven years, he wants to encourage learners to be educated so that their dreams can come true.“Mayor Nxumalo, when he spoke about his wish of visiting schools and to donate uniforms I was very touched as I also lost my dad at a young age and had a difficult upbringing, but I was able to get educated and now I am a farmer. I wish the same for you (learners) to get educated,” said Ndongeni. The School Governing Body Chairperson for the Sangcwabe School, Mr. Bhekelakhe Ndlovu, thanked the District Mayor and the Ndongeni for the initiative. “I am very happy and we appreciate what the Mayor and Mr Ndongeni have done for us, it is like a dream that schools like ours in the rural areas get uniforms. In the past we use to travel to school barefootedWe travelled long distances but we stayed in schools. Now our kids are getting an opportunity of a lifetime, uniforms for free. This brings hope to our kids and this displays that the government cares for them and their dreams,” said Ndlovu. ISSUED BY HARRY GWALA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY COMMUNICATIONS UNIT.
