Shoe donation for needy Manguzi Primary learners
The donation was co-ordinated by SAPS national head office in Pretoria
MORE than 600 learners from eSibonisweni Primary School in Manguzi can now walk to school in comfort after each receiving a donation of school shoes.
Co-ordinated by Colonel Maako, Communications Officer at SAPS’ national head office in Pretoria, donations were obtained from Saab and included school shoes, shoe polish, socks, rulers and sanitary pads.
‘We first visited the school in November while conducting our anti-albanism campaign following the murder of Thandazile Mpanza in 2015,’ said Colonel Maako.
‘In November we saw the need among destitute learners and pledged to return to the school with some donations of necessary items for the children and their families.
‘This month we made good on that commitment after successfully teaming up with Saab and Spar.’
Apart from Saab’s donations to all 650 learners at eSibonisweni Primary, Spar handed over 20 food parcels to the most needy learners and their families.
The death of Mpanza, a senseless tragedy which her family is battling to come to terms with, put Manguzi on the map, opening up the area’s most needy and vulnerable to outside help.
‘Manguzi is regularly visited by a national contingent of police officers who conduct ongoing albanism awareness campaigns,’ said Mtubatuba SAPS Communications Officer, Captain Justice Hlabisa.
‘While the murder was tragic, it paved the way for something good.
‘The area’s most needy are now supported because of SAPS intervening and striking up a partnership with the business sector.’
SAPS is also appealing for assistance in piping water to the rural areas of Manguzi as community members are afraid to send their children to collect water, especially those suffering from albanism.
‘There is a high concentration of people with albanism in Manguzi, and they fear for their safety,’ said Hlabisa.
Two trees were planted at the school – hope and light – signifying the hope and light brought about from the tragedy.
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