The breakfast engine room at Tinley Manor Primary
The kitchen is for the pupils who come from underprivileged homes, with some entirely dependent on the food they get at school.
Etete resident Busisiwe Yafulela wakes up at 4.30am to get to Tinley Manor Primary School by 6.30am and start preparing breakfast for more than 100 pupils.
The unemployed woman – who is called Aunty Busi by the pupils – started preparing breakfast last year after the school was sponsored a breakfast kitchen by Sembcorp Siza Water as part of their Mandela Day celebration.
The kitchen is for the pupils who come from underprivileged homes, with some entirely dependent on the food they get at school.
“A parents meeting was called by the school teachers and parents were told that two volunteers were needed to run the kitchen. I thought it was the least I could do as my seven-year-old boy is also benefiting from the kitchen,” said Yafulela.
Aunty Busi is a favourite among the pupils because she always ensures that by 7.30, their porridge or morvite is ready.
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Teachers praised her for her commitment and said is she never absent or late.
“We always arrive and find that aunty has prepared the breakfast and is ready to dish up for the kids. Before she leaves, she makes sure that the kitchen is clean and pots and dishes are cleaned and ready for the next day. We just wish that the school could afford to pay her,” said one of the teachers.
The teachers are worried that if she finds other employment, the kitchen might fall apart. They said the bond between Busi and the children is very strong and they depend on her to keep the system running smoothly since they need to rush to their classrooms in the mornings.
The school is appealing to anyone who can support the kitchen with more breakfast foods because the kitchen is being supplied only with maize meal and morvite.
“We would love to add more to our breakfast menu for the kids and hopefully have a basic salary for Aunty Busi,” said one of the teachers.
If you would like to help, conact Sboniso at the Courier on 032 9346 0276.
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