A joint initiative by Amathole District Municipality (ADM) and Nedbank has seen Mfamzi Primary School in Cafutweni Village under the Mnquma Local Municipality receive a donation of a water tank, 100 pairs of shoes and sanitary products.
The donation was made, overseen by ADM executive mayor, Anele Ntsangani, as part of the two entities’ Stay in School Programme in which both entities support schools in the district with resources, such as shoes and water infrastructure.
Ntsangani was accompanied by the Mnquma Local Municipality executive mayor, Tunyiswa Manxila-Nkamisa, MMC Celiwe Genyane, Chief Ndabele Mtoto, the Department of Education and Nedbank officials.
“Primary school is the most important phase of education as it lays the foundation for the future of pupils. The days you spend away from school are very detrimental to your future. We are trying to keep these children in school so that they absorb as much learning as possible early on,” said Ntsangani.
Manxila-Nkamisa described the occasion as a unified effort between the private sector and government to eliminate destitution in our communities.
“We are fighting inequality and unemployment; these are a direct cause for absenteeism in schools. I applaud this step by ADM and Nedbank. We must work together to better our communities,” she said.
Lungiswa Ntsimangwe, from the Department of Education, mentioned the difficulty of working with schools in rural areas, by insisting that investment in the future of children in rural primary schools must remain a priority.
“We are investing in the future of our communities by ensuring that children have everything they need to stay in school. As our client, ADM has become our partner in social development,” said Nedbank’s Mzi Baleni.
In his closing remarks, Chief Mtoto lamented the closure of schools in the area. The local traditional leader said that he was “fighting tooth and nail to keep Mfamzi from being closed.”
