Learners, shelters receive masks in fight against Covid-19

The Tshwane metro distributed face masks to schools and shelters that house homeless people, as part of a response to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The face masks were handed over by community and social development services MMC Thabisile Vilakazi to Ribane Laka High School and Wintervelt High School on Monday.

The donation was made possible by the city’s participation in the South African Local Government Association (Salga).

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the masks were donated to the city by Salga and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under a partnership aimed at supporting municipalities to mitigate against the negative effects of Covid-19.

The substantive focus of this partnership addresses the plight of SMMEs, informal traders, workers in the informal sector as well as positioning the local government sector to poise itself to support and respond to the needs of these sectors.

“The strategic focus of the partnership is aligned with Salga’s 2017-2022 strategic agenda as well as well as the UN 17 sustainable development goals,” said Mashigo.

Shelters that received the masks were Life Changing Ministries in Akasia, Number 2 Struben Shelter in Marabastad and Gate Centre in Pretoria.

“This project empowered 25 SMMEs across the province of Gauteng to manufacture the fabric face masks and three of those SMMEs were selected from the city of Tshwane through UNDP-Salga selection criteria,” said Mashigo.

“The three Tshwane SMMEs are Sibasango’s Acquisition, Monenebe Maintenance and Projects, and RGT Group.

“This initiative is a demonstration of how close collaboration between the city, Salga and international organisations like UNDP can benefit communities, by building small businesses while protecting vulnerable communities.”

Vilakazi who handed over face masks at Ribane Laka Secondary School and also donated more than 1 000 masks to grade 12 learners, encouraged learners to continue wearing masks, sanitising and to always keep social distance.

“We don’t know how long the virus will be here with us. While the virus is here we have to be safe,” she said.

Principal of Ribane Laka Secondary School, Martha Ngoma said the masks came at the right time as “50% of the pupils at school will get a mask”.

Grade 12 learner Kearabile Mfetane (18) said he was very happy to get a mask.

He said it was difficult to use one mask because you have to take it off and wash it and while waiting for it to dry, you don’t have anything to put on.

“At least now I have two masks.”

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