This comes after they submitted applications for municipal assistance last year. Greater Giyani Mayor Thandi Zitha said the funds were intended to cover basic needs, as well as settle students’ debts where applicable. “We know that sometimes students are faced with situations where they lack basic needs after admission into a tertiary institution or have some outstanding debts to settle, these funds will cover that,” she said.

The mayor was speaking during the school awards ceremony organised by the municipality to recognise and honour schools that have performed well in last year’s matric results, as well as to encourage other schools to improve their performances. During the award ceremony, the mayor said she was impressed with the performance of schools in the Mopani East region, particularly those in the Greater Giyani Municipality.

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She praised teachers for their hard work and pledged to help them if they encounter any challenge that requires municipal assistance. “As a municipality, we are prepared to carry out our duties, particularly in terms of encouraging parents to get involved in their children’s education.”

“Teachers shouldn’t tackle challenges involving our children alone, parents need to be involved along with community leaders,” she said. “With all the government initiatives to ensure that learners have food at school, parents have a responsibility to make sure that their children have something to eat when they return from school,” explained the mayor.