Acting National Commissioner, Makgothi Thobakgale, on behalf of Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, handed over school furniture and uniform to restore the dignity of learners from four (04) schools in the Chris Hani and Sarah Baartman Districts in the Eastern Cape region on 04 March 2022. The handover formed part of Minister Lamola’s School Outreach Programme.
Championing the District Development Model in the Chris Hani District, Minister Lamola adopted the E. Macembe Junior Primary School in Cradock in January 2021. The school requested support from Minister Lamola in terms of refurbishing the school’s infrastructure and equipment.
The region then embarked on refurbishment project utilising offender labour and skills development programme from 11 to 18 January 2022. A total of 145 school desks and 150 school chairs, refurbished by offenders, were handed over to the schools. Old frames were collected from various schools around the Eastern Cape region and were fitted on the desk tops by inmates from the St Albans Production Workshop.
This refurbishment project was divided into two phases due to budgetary constraints. The first phase focused on the external building at E. Macembe Primary School which included the painting of the walls, installation of gutters, replacement of windows, painting of window panes and doors as well as grass cutting. All materials used during the project were provided by the school, with DCS providing offender labour under the guidance and supervision of artisans.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister, Commissioner Thobakgale lauded the efforts of the region for ensuring that the schools were assisted with the necessary resources in order to promote a conducive learning environment.
“It is good to see the investment that the region and all the stakeholders are making towards securing the future of our children,” remarked Commissioner Thobakgale. He encouraged partnerships with other government departments in order to maximise the output of promoting the departmental outreach programmes and promoting corrections as a societal responsibility.
“On behalf of the learners and staff members of E. Macembe primary school, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services for heeding our call for help. The Department of Correction Services has helped to restore the dignity of the learners and boost the morale of the teachers,” said Mr Fumanekile Dondashe, the school principal of E. Macembe.
Twenty-nine (29) learners from Rosemead Primary School in Middelburg received tracksuits which were donated by AVBOB and school shoes donated by United Nations World Food Programme. The UNWFP also donated several school items including school bags and water bottles.
In attendance were Ms Noxolo Abrahams-Ntantiso, Member of Parliament, Acting Executive Mayor of Chris Hani District, Cllr Tembisile Bobo, Acting Mayor for Inxuba yethemba Local Municipality, Cllr Masawe, the United Nations World Food Programme Chairperson for SADEC Region, Dr Haile, Ms Gogo from AVBOB, parents and learners as well as stakeholders from various government departments.
