MEC Norman Mokoena donates school uniforms to needy students

1 June 2010

The MEC for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Norman Mokoena, has donated school uniforms to five needy students in the Draaikraal area under the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality. MEC Mokoena noticed the plight of the students when he visited the area during the outreach programme by the Provincial Executive Council to the Thaba Chweu municipality in April this year.

When the MEC conducted a walk about in the area he came across a child headed household where two children did not have any school uniform, and two families where the Children did not have any uniforms and as a result were reluctant to attend school. MEC Mokoena was touched by the conditions that the children were living in and immediately requested the local social workers from the Department of Social Services to do an assessment and look into the possibilities of providing those families with food parcels and also look into how they can be assisted to access government grants.

He further made a commitment that he will purchase the school uniforms for the children. “It is very sad to find children still living in such conditions. What is more painful is that government has got programmes to assist such children such as social grants, but they are not accessing them. This means we must intensify our education and awareness programmes so that people are aware of what services they can receive from government.” said Mokoena.

MEC Mokoena said even though the uniforms will not address all the children needs, but he hopes that they will go a long way in improving their conditions and importantly it will motivate them to do well at school. “You are the future leaders of our country, so please study heard and be committed to your education” said Mokoena. He further wished all students well in their mid year exams.

The uniforms included two sets for each child of school shoes, shirts, jerseys, socks, skirts and trousers were handed over to two high school students from Tonteldoos Secondary School and three from Hountenbek Primary school.

Contact person:
Simphiwe Kunene
Cell: 082 413 3931

Issued by: Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
1 June 2010