Umtata Sanlam Branch Manager, Gordon Simanga, confirmed that the company donated school uniforms to learners from Tiphini Primary School in Mthatha last week, aiming to restore their confidence.
Simanga explained that the initiative stemmed from a request by a Good Samaritan in Mthatha, who initially sought sanitary towels for the learners. The request was forwarded to Sanlam’s head office.
“After the head office received the request, they referred it to me to assess the situation. Upon visiting the school, I realised it was indeed Tiphini, and the community there is facing numerous struggles. Many residents are unemployed and cannot make ends meet. When considering the request for sanitary towels, I noticed that many learners were too young to use them,” he said.
Simanga then engaged the school principal, Judy Dyusi, to propose changing the request to a school uniform donation. Initially, the plan focused on providing shoes for learners in need. “After she agreed, we asked her to provide a list of the most needy learners. Following discussions with our head office, we were allocated funds to purchase the items. As winter approached, I requested additional funds to include jerseys as part of the uniforms, which were approved.”
Simanga expressed happiness upon seeing learners wearing new jerseys instead of their old, worn ones, noting that this has helped restore their dignity. He believes this confidence boost will positively impact their school experience.
Simanga confirmed that this was not Sanlam’s first community initiative. Earlier this year, the company assisted victims of the June floods in Mthatha by donating groceries worth R50,000 to the O.R. Tambo Disaster Office. “Even our Sanlam Foundation and Santam were involved in helping the victims. We continue to receive requests, such as for soccer kits, and we prioritise schools with genuine needs.”
He emphasised that Sanlam’s motto is “Live with Confidence,” which they strive to inspire in others. “When we help learners, whether it’s through uniforms or other initiatives, we build their confidence and empower them. Our goal is to live by our motto and help others do the same.”
Linda Matoti, Manager for Human Resource Development at the Department of Education, praised the initiative, stating that it significantly restored learners’ self-esteem. “This area is home to many underprivileged families. While the department provides stationery, we cannot always cover other needs like uniforms. That is why we rely on support from private companies like Sanlam. Their efforts help reduce dropout rates, which is a serious challenge for us,” she noted.
Tiphini Primary School principal, Judy Dyusi, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the struggles of parents in the area, many of whom rely on social grants. “We always encourage parents to take responsibility, but we also understand their challenges. That is why we sought Sanlam’s help, and they did not disappoint. They are giving back to the community, and we hope this partnership continues, as it has truly improved our learners’ circumstances.”
