Mokgatle’s education crusade continues

The young martyrs of the historic June 16 should be commemorated through daily sacrifices which advance the education of less privileged children.

This plea is from the only remaining member of three young Soweto students who in 1976, led thousands of others in an act which hastened global condemnation and demise of Apartheid after it massacred some of them. “We were on a simple, peaceful march against the imposition of Afrikaans in an already debased system of Bantu Education. “We were not aware that the repercussion would later be of global significance,” said Barney Mokgatle.

With this year’s commemoration drawing close, Mokgatle’s mission is to continues that moment’s mandate. “Ensuring educational support to poor children is a never-ending crusade.” His view is that this plea is made easy now when there is an enabling Constitutional democracy with rights of equality that are entitled to everyone to access to most crucial services in life.

According to Mokgatle daily compassion and support to the poor children should be provided in whatever small or big way to advance their literacy and develop a national resource. “June 16 commemoration should be a time when the contributions are read out as testimonies of our commitment.” He said the support is needed urgently in rural areas and township schools which are poorly resourced, parents have limited income and should be encouraged to commit more to their children’s education.”Like in private and suburban school, the parents should all attend and contribute constructively at SGB meetings than leave all education responsibilities to the teachers.”

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Mokgatle added that communities’ contribution should also be made to ease pressure and competition faced by the government for limited resources for social and economic transformation. “If we don’t contribute, thousands of children with the potential to excel and be national assets and leaders will be left vulnerable and fall through the cracks.” Mokgatle receives requests for help from schools through his East Bank based Barney Mokgatle Foundation. “With support from like-minded partnerships, I simply hop into any transport available to visit desperate communities, children and teachers who need basic things, available in better resources schools like, toilets, books, stationery, food, chairs, tables, halls and psychosocial services,” he said of his trips to schools in Eastern Cape, Limpopo, North West, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and Gauteng. He commended the teachers for their resilience saying they need to be motivated and provided hospitable facilities.

At one school he donated equipment for interactive learning with neighbouring schools, provided food supplies for children at a school which was under threat of closure. “If we hadn’t lobbied the national department of education the children would by now have been denied education and turned into farm labourers.”

Mokgatle is also considering helping Mc Weiler Primary school metres from his base. “They require a hall for mass meetings and protection against hostile weather. “Other Alex school also struggle with substance abuse by children from eight years of age. “They should be saved urgently, and order and conducive learning environment restored.”

He complained about one local authority in North West Province for charging a poor school R7 000 for using its hall. In another school, the picture of the principal’s office is the size of a cubicle. He said other schools are still made of prefabricated material and asbestos roof which are hazardous.

Mokgatle is still to visit schools in Limpopo and Western Cape to fulfil the foundation’s quest for national coverage.

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