Pastor celebrates his birthday at James Nkosi Primary School
Pastor celebrates his birthday by donating to a local school.
Duduza – Pastor Tankieso Masoka, an ANCYL member and Ward 87 committee member heading the community sector, celebrated his birthday at James Nkosi Primary School by donating 35 pairs of school shoes.
Masoka invited different speakers from different sectors to celebrate with him by speaking to learners and giving them messages of motivation and hope.
Learners also sang a birthday song to Masoka.
The principal, Nkosana Vala, said, “What Masoka did was phenomenal and awesome. Instead of spending his birthday buying alcohol and making friends happy, he gave shoes to our children. I would say he is following in Nelson Mandela’s footsteps.”
Vala hopes that Masoka gets more funders so that he may celebrate his birthday like this every year and that the donation may grow bigger.
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ANCYL regional chairperson Lorraine Mahlosane said, “One of the most important messages to the learners is that they must love each other and grow up with love which will lead to the eradication of bullying in schools and if they learn now, they’ll get to learn how to protect each other as brothers and sisters.”
Mahlosane said Masoka has been doing great community work even before the school shoes donation.
Dignity and Respect Men’s Club president Solly Le Roux said to the children, “It is not a problem being born poor but through education, it is a problem to die poor.
“Not everyone can or will be rich, but with education, we have a chance to change our status.”
Le Roux said what Masoka did is exemplary and encouraging to see a young man doing such great things.
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Masoka said what motivated him to do the school shoes donation was a learner he met in November coming from a school with torn sneakers.
“I then wondered if this learner has no shoes, how many more are in the same situation?
“Children drop out of school due to not having a uniform and that leads to them falling into wrong things such as drugs and crime,” said Masoka.
Masoka wished to could have donated to all primary schools in Ward 87 but he only managed to donate to one school due to financial constraints.
Among the invited speakers were bishop Andile Madiba Tima of Christ Ambassadors Church, Gauteng Social Development chief director Bongani Ngomane and the ward’s ANC and ANCYL leaders.
