By Luzamo Sandlana
A pair of school shoes can carry a child towards opportunity. Fourteen schools in the Joe Gqabi District felt that lift when Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina arrived in Sterkspruit on Friday, 23 May, accompanied by officials from TCTA, Rand
Water, uMgeni-uThukela and Amathola Water Board. The outreach combined practical donations with career advice. Learners crowded into Bensonvale Methodist Church, where Joe Gqabi, Executive Mayor Nomvuyo Mphoselwe, thanked the visitors for “support that speaks directly to the needs of our children”.
Minister Majodina told the audience she had been “very touched” by the district’s 2024 matric results. She said she knew the community’s hardships and school challenges, so the strong performance proved learners’ determination to make their families proud. “Officials from various organisations were once in your position,” she added, urging learners to listen to the free guidance on offer.
The minister’s team brought school shoes, uniforms, cleaning supplies and bursary information. Amathola Water board chair Dr Garster Sharpley noted that many officials had left their families to attend. The gifts, he said, meant “more than just a pair of shoes and sanitary pads” because they invested in learners’ confidence, self-worth and future and let them “step into their education with dignity and a renewed sense of purpose”.
After the speeches, learners moved through exhibition stalls that set out study paths and career options. The day closed with smiles and a clear message: determination, community support and the right resources can help every child walk toward a brighter future.
