Members from Mpunzana Development Association (MDA), which consists of professors and doctors and other dignitaries, celebrated Mandela Month by giving back to Dumalisile Primary School in Mthatha, last week.
This is the school where these MDA members started their education careers.
According to the MDA general secretary, Mthembeni Tebelele, they bought uniform, which cost R72 000 for 162 learners from this school, which they got from different people, by collecting R100 from each person.
He said they bought this uniform with the aim of motivating and showing them that they could do more in life.
According to Tabelele, they also bought boxes of sanitary towels to help girls, so that they could be able to come to school all the time.
Tebelele said they wanted to ensure that these children have confidence and boost their self-esteem.
“We did our lower classes here and at that time we never thought that we will be what we are today. We decided to adopt this school in order to ensure that it produces more professionals. Some of us are
He added that they also contributed to the community by donating blankets to the elders, with the aim of uplifting their society.
The principal of the school, Jongisango Mnyombolo, said they were happy because this showed that this school would keep producing learners who would make a change in the country.
“We really appreciate what they did for us and this shows that our learners would also learn something from them. They built a hall and toilets for us and now they are supporting our learners by supplying school uniform.
“The number of learners (at the school) would increase because of what they are doing,” said Mnyombolo. Chairperson for the school governing body, Xolile Ndendze, said the number of learners had been decreasing but now they were hoping that this initiative would change that.
He said the number was decreasing because the school was being undermined and some of the parents depended on the social grant, so it was hard for them to buy full school uniform for their children.
“We wish our children could learn something from them and become better people one day,” said Ndzendze.
