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Zuma FETES dozens orphans at Enkandla

BENEFACTOR: President Jacob Zuma hands out school books to Mnyakanye High School principal at eNkandla. Circa December 2009. © Unknown.
BENEFACTOR: President Jacob Zuma hands out school books to Mnyakanye High School principal at eNkandla. Circa December 2009. © Unknown.

ORPHANS and vulnerable children of rural Nkandla village rejoiced yesterday - dancing and playing sport as part of celebrating Christmas with the community.

ORPHANS and vulnerable children of rural Nkandla village rejoiced yesterday - dancing and playing sport as part of celebrating Christmas with the community.

The dusty home of President Jacob Zuma was abuzz, thanks to the Jacob Zuma RDP Education Trust. The trust throws the annual party at which the president spends time with the children.

Thousands of community members, business people and politicians, including KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize, Cosatu president S'dumo Dlamini and Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, were in attendance.

This year's party was special because it was the first hosted by Zuma since he became president. The village has been a hive of activity for a week now. On Sunday elders were given food and blankets.

Boys aged between 10 and 15 started the day by entertaining the community with soccer in a dusty ground near Zuma's homestead. The SA National Defence Force was on hand to encourage young people to join the SANDF.

The children showcased their sporting skills at the Mnyakanya High School sports ground, in line with the spirit of 2010 World Cup, which is just six months away.

More than 5000 children received Christmas gifts from Zuma. The trust was founded by Zuma in 1995 while he was still KwaZulu-Natal MEC for economic development. Since then it has sent more than 20000 underprivileged children to school.

Addressing more than 10000 people, Zuma said the trust would soon help children from other provinces.

"The trust has helped many poor children in KwaZulu-Natal. We want this to go to other provinces. The trust has already started helping in Limpopo and soon it will start operating in Eastern Cape and North West," he said.

"We are doing this because we are very passionate about education. We appeal to businesses to help us achieve this goal."

Zuma added that a foundation would be set up to complement the work being done by the trust.

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