The 18th of July marks a very important day on the South African calendar, it represents Mandela Day. The day is celebrated by goodwill nationally and it was no different in Lephalale.
The Lephalale Municipality in partnership with Eskom celebrated their Mandela Day by doing minor refurbishments and cleaning at the Ellisras Hospital. The giving later continued in the rural areas as blankets were donated to various crèches.
The celebrations continued on the 20th of July in Ga-Seleka village. Three disadvantaged families were officially given houses in Seleka. The families of Otsweleng with three children, Ngoepe with three siblings and twelve grandchildren as well as Madibana family with fourteen children were identified by the minister of communications Faith Muthambi in November last year during Imbizo focus week.
In January this year Lephalale Local Municipality Mayor Cllr Moloko Jack Maeko and his councillors revisited the households to introduce the contractor. Kgosi Mabalane Seleka in the company of Maeko, Municipal Manager Edith Tukakgomo and stakeholders officially handed over the keys of the houses to the senior members of the families. The houses are each equipped with three piece sofas, television, two beds, a fridge while beneficiaries also received clothes.
Later on the entourage went to Mazwe High School to identify challenges faced by the school. Acting Principal Mr Mpherwane complained about bad sanitation at the school. He says the school is very old and they wish the government can help change the image of the school as classrooms are worn out, there is no playground and no laboratory. Maeko says he was Secretary of the SRC in 1991 at Mazwe and to date the gate at the school has not been changed. Maeko says he led marches in a no water no school protest that saw students march a distance of more than 20 kilometres per school around Lephalale.
He encouraged Medupi Power Station to help to renovate Mazwe High School as the school they have identified earlier on has been rebuilt by the department of education. His commitment was that he will donate 50 tablets to students for students’ research.
The stakeholders that participated with Lephalale Municipality in building the houses and equipping them with furniture are: Mooncloud, Coghsta, PEP, Mamondo the Builders, Broll Properties, Biger Africa. Medupi Power Statiion and Exxaro are earmarked for the renovations at Mazwe.