Ministerial office hands over donations

On July 19, Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Nocawa Mafu handed over sport equipment for different sporting codes to Jiyana Secondary School.

Mafu said the gesture was in the spirit of giving during Mandela Day, which will be celebrated July.

“Tata Mandela, whom we are celebrating today, has reminded us that it is very important to remember that young people are the future. Therefore, whatever we do as government we must make sure that we put resources into young people.

“When we are putting resources into young people, we are actually putting those resources into the future,” said Mafu. She also commended the growth of Jiyana Secondary despite its challenges since its inception in 1977.

Speaking to the learners, Mafu said coming to the school fulfils her as a deputy minister, and depending on the school’s performance she could also look into other areas where she can help the school.

Mafu also encouraged the young people to be determined in everything they do.

“Start by dreaming. Your motto will ignite your dream, which very important. Remember that always.

“Each one of you comes from a different background, you can never be the same, but what you do with the resources given to you as tools can shape what you are going to be tomorrow,” Mafu motivated the learners.

She told them they do not need to be from better families for them to be better people.

Mafu encouraged the learners to also share the call of physical exercise with their families and the community as a whole in order to stay healthy.

“A body that is well exercised makes a child improve academically.

“Exercising people are the ones who are clever because their brains are not sleeping,” she assured the learners.

Jiyana Secondary principal Christina Serumula said she is joyful that Jiyana Secondary is going to be a balanced school with all the necessary sport equipment that has been donated to the school.

“This donation leaves me very happy and I am thankful to the good Lord,” said Serumula. Ward 11 Cl Xolane Mdekazi said as a ward they are grateful to the deputy minister for the donation.

“I hope this gesture will be done for other schools as well. This will encourage learners to engage in sport and show them that a career is not about education only,” said Mdekazi.

After the handover, Mafu and her entourage headed to the school hall where they painted the walls to give the hall a facelift.