Deputy Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Pinky Kekana, made a significant contribution to the learners of Nwabi High School in eNgonyameni, a rural community located 33 km southwest of Durban, by providing 200 pairs of school shoes and sanitary pads. This gesture, she explained, was driven by the belief that “no child should be denied education because of a lack of shoes, and we should all endeavor to use our resources to ensure that children get to school.” The Deputy Minister’s visit underscored her commitment to supporting educational access and addressing barriers that students in impoverished communities often face.
During her visit, Deputy Minister Kekana also inspected Nwabi High School’s facilities. The school, built by the local community, currently serves over 700 learners with only 13 classrooms. This shortage of space has led to severe overcrowding, impacting the quality of education the students receive. Most learners come from low-income families within the Engonyameni area, which further highlights the need for greater support and resources.
The school principal, Mr. Elvis Mkhwanazi, expressed urgent concerns regarding the deteriorating infrastructure, including asbestos roofing and dilapidated buildings that pose risks to both learners and teachers. Despite these challenges, the school achieved an impressive 96% pass rate last year, reflecting the resilience and dedication of the school community. Deputy Minister Kekana committed to raising these issues with relevant departments, noting that these concerns align with the broader mandate of the Ministry for Public Service and Administration to enhance public service delivery and support for underserved communities.
The visit also extended to the Madundube Community Hall, where Deputy Minister Kekana coordinated a multi-departmental initiative to bring essential services closer to the people. Frontline departments such as Social Development, SAPS, EThekwini Customer Services, and Employment and Labour were present to provide soft services to the Engonyameni community. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort to improve access to government services in remote and rural areas.
In addition, the Deputy Minister encouraged community members to attend the upcoming Presidential Imbizo, which will be hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday, 9 November 2024, at Umnini Sportsfield in Umgababa, KwaZulu-Natal. The DDM Presidential Imbizo aims to foster direct engagement between the President, Ministers, provincial leadership, and communities, creating a platform to address socio-economic challenges affecting the lives of local residents. The initiative is also designed to intensify service delivery, promote social cohesion, and advance developmental programs to create economic opportunities for residents.
Deputy Minister Kekana’s visit highlights her commitment to improving the quality of education and public services for communities in need, while also fostering a spirit of collaboration and accountability among government departments to meet the critical needs of South Africa’s rural populations.
