About 650 needy children who lives in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, received school uniform packs as part of the Bana Pele Initiative.

The uniforms and dignity packs  were  donated by  Gauteng MEC for Agriculture, rural and social development, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza.

Mayathula-Khoza said the 650 uniforms supplied were part of 110 000 school uniforms that would be distributed this year in various areas.

She said dignity packs (sanitary pads, roll-on and body lotion) were donated monthly to young boys and girls who cannot afford.

Mayathula-Khoza said since the Bana Pele Initiative, which means putting children first, was launched in 2005, it has benefited more than 1 million children.

 “The initiative is aimed at improving the conditions of our children. These children come from schools in the poorest areas and they are receiving child support grants or orphaned. We plan to roll older women who cannot afford the sanitary pads.”

South Africa Principal Association representative  Morake Mile urged parents to be part of their children’s education.

 “Education  needs parents, teachers and a learners co-operation. Some of the challenges they were facing as teachers was the late coming of learners at school. I would also want to condemn communities to stop  disrupting school  whenever they are protesting for  services.” 

Mayathula-Khoza further said she was proud that some of the schools in Orange Farm performed better than the province itself when it comes to matric results.

“I want to congratulate Leshata Secondary School for achieving 89 percent. Other schools that did well was Aha-thuto Secondary  and Raphela Secondary.”

 She added that the school uniforms that are distribute were produced by 488 cooperatives that were trained and assisted financially by  government financially.

Bana Pele Programme provides early childhood services, psychosocial counselling, health, school nutrition programme, school transport and grants among other things.

bambalelep@sowetan.co.za