Taxi associations give back with school uniforms
"Community members use our transport every day and donations of school uniforms to the learners are a way of giving back to our loyal customers."
It was all smiles as 300 learners from three different schools in Mamelodi received full school uniforms and school bags recently.
The generous donations to Legora, Sediba SA Thuto and Impendulo primary schools were made by the Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association (Mata) at Silverton Park on May 25.
Mata chairperson Ben Maredi said the donations were part of giving back to the community and schoolchildren “because they are the ones who are supporting our business of transporting people”.
He said it felt good to see children smiling and knowing they will no longer be ashamed of coming to school with torn school uniforms.
“The new school uniforms also boost children’s confidence and improve their schoolwork and concentration in class,” said Maredi.
He encouraged the learners to focus on their schoolwork now that they have their new uniforms and bags and “they must stop stressing because they look like other learners”.
“In the past, the taxi association gave back to the community by contributing to funerals when families were struggling to bury their loved ones. This time, we decided to invest in our future leaders,” he said.
“We will continue to help our local schools with such donations. We also plan on helping old-age homes and disability homes in Mamelodi.”
The legendary singer Dr Nothembi Mkhwebane, members of Mata, the Mamelodi Local and Long-distance Taxi Association (Malldta) and the Federation of Local and Long-distance Taxi Association (Felldta) attended.
The taxi associations thanked everyone who made the donations of school uniforms possible.
Sediba SA Thuto primary school principal Trevor Matlala said his school faced many challenges.
“We have many children from poor backgrounds who don’t have school uniforms,” said Matlala.
“The uniforms will boost learners’ confidence and help them concentrate on their schoolwork.”
The full school uniforms included shirts, tunics, socks, jerseys, trousers, shoes and school bags. The taxi association also treated the learners with lunch meals at McDonald’s.
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