Councillor pays back his primary school with donated school shoes
ActionSA councillor Tumelo Shai reached into his own pocket to buy 40 pairs of school shoes, ensuring learner from his alma mater, Skeen Primary School, could walk the same path he once did.
Tumelo Shai, councillor for ActionSA, has made a personal contribution to learners in Alexandra by purchasing 40 pairs of school shoes out of his own salary.
Of the total, 20 pairs were donated to learners at Skeen Primary School, while the remaining half was set aside for East Bank High School.
Read more: Lions donate hundreds of school shoes to Zenzeleni Primary learners
As a former learner at Skeen, Shai ensured that he gave back to the school that raised him to be who he is. More importantly, the donation was personal to him because he knows first‑hand how it feels to not have school shoes. He noted that teachers had shared with him the extent of the need among learners. “We heard from the teachers. They said there are so many learners here that are orphans, and do not have shoes. I got a long list, and the least I could do is get them shoes.”
@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Knowing the pain of going without school shoes, ActionSA councillor Tumelo Shai says his donation drive is about ensuring no learner endures what he once did. Video: Itumeleng Maloka #ActionSA #Alex ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
He emphasised that he did not want any learner to suffer indignity or face challenges he grappled with when he was in high school. He recalled how others used to mock him because of the shoes he was wearing. “I don’t want a learner to encounter the same situation.” So, he dug into his own pocket, took his own salary, and bought 40 learners a pair of new school shoes.
Also read: SAPS donates chess sets and sports equipment to Realogile Secondary
Principal of Skeen Primary School Rammidi Setshedi welcomed the donation, noting that it came at a time when it was needed most. “We are very much excited and pleased to have the donation of school shoes. Our learners are challenged. Many of them are in need of this kind of support.”
Setshedi explained that when it comes to shoes, it is common to see learners running around with old pairs, so the donation was particularly helpful.
He added that the parents of the learners appreciated the gesture. Setshedi said he was grateful that Skeen was remembered among so many other schools in Alexandra.
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