By Nangamso Mabindla
29 January 2007

DELIGHTED children received school uniforms from Buffalo City Executive Mayor Zintle Peter, as part of her school uniform programme.

Hailing from different disadvantaged schools around the city, 100 children now have uniforms.

The programme is part of a partnership between the council and the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) aimed at helping to alleviate poverty. In December the two teamed up to host Mayoral Christmas Parties for the elderly and the poor.

On Friday, 26 January the school children, their teachers and parents went to the East London City Hall to receive their uniforms. The provincial MEC for education, Jonny Makgato, officials from Sassa and councilors also attended the happy hand-over.

Speaking at the event, Peter said the programme was a drop in the ocean as there were many learners who needed uniforms. "We have many challenges ahead of us and I would like to urge government departments to work together so that we can overcome [them]."

She said that poverty was one of the major reasons why children dropped out of school. "By giving these youngsters new school uniforms, we are trying to help boost their confidence and give them more reasons to go to school. We need to help these children because they are the leaders of tomorrow."

She urged the government and its partners to work in unison and assist poor learners. "This initiative will also show parents that we are with them in their plight and we want to do something about it."

Makgato said that he was happy that the City and Sassa were working together to bring smiles to parents and children.

"I want to use this opportunity to appeal to parents to take their children's education seriously. I am also happy that the City has responded to national Education Minister Naledi Pandor's Drop Everything and Read initiative, which aims to encourage our children take education seriously."

He said the national programme would come to Buffalo City this year. "These children are our future and we need to take care of them."

Of the one million children in Grade R, only 300 000 would make it to matric. "We need to stop that - and programmes of this nature will help us to improve on those numbers," Makgato said.

The hampers of school uniforms included a school bag, shoes and a full school uniform.