Mayor takes on poverty fight

2008-05-11 10:43

Neville Maakana

Tzaneen - A Limpopo mayor has urged teachers to "adopt" school pupils who come from poor families.

Greater Letaba mayor Joshua Matlou says teachers have a role to play in the fight against poverty in their schools.

"Even if a teacher can spend R100 a year on a needy child, it will make a real difference," he said.

Matlou donated school uniforms to 30 needy children this week. The donation included pairs of shoes, socks, tunics, trousers and shirts worth about R10 000.

The school uniforms were given to 20 kids at Lebaka Primary school and 10 kids at William Kgatla Primary School in Bolobedu outside Tzaneen.

Matlou raised the donation after he saw the children walking barefoot when he visited the two schools earlier this year.

He expressed hope that the donation would boost the children's self-image and that their performance in class would improve.

"These children are our future, so we must do everything possible to help them achieve their dreams," he said.

The principal of William Kgatla Primary School, Ngwako Rasekgololo, said: "We are grateful for the donations and we want to thank the mayor for choosing our school."

A Grade 5 pupil at the school, Ronnie Rakgolele, thanked his teachers for identifying him as one of the children who should receive the donation.

"I will make sure that my uniform is always neat and tidy," he said./NewsFirst

- African Eye