By Nangamso Mabindla
31 July 2007

DISADVANTAGED learners will now have access to computers, thanks to equipment donated by the citizens of Leiden, in the Netherlands, to Buffalo City.

The donations are a result of the partnership between Buffalo and Leiden. The equipment, which arrived in East London in January, includes 350 computers, 40 bicycles and furniture.

It was handed over to beneficiaries on Monday, 30 July at the East London City Hall. Executive Mayor Zintle Peter, municipal manager Gaster Sharpley and Eastern Cape's MEC for education Johnny Makgato attended the ceremony.

Alluding to the donations, Peter said the partnership between the two cities had added value to the communities of Buffalo City and Leiden.

"We are also very clear that the primary beneficiaries of development support in Buffalo City have always been, and must always be, those communities that are still experiencing economic, social and educational disadvantages that are a legacy of our past."

The partnership with Leiden also encouraged the City to fulfill its vision of being a people-centered municipality. "The vision of Buffalo City has certainly been advanced through the large-scale financial and technical support received from Leiden in social housing projects," she said, adding that Leiden worked closely with the City in disaster management and public safety.

Schools, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and other institutions in the municipality would receive the donations. "This equipment will empower them to become more efficient and effective in the very important work that they do," Peter explained.

She further promised to work with the provincial government in its efforts to improve education in the province.

Disadvantaged schools and the City's three Youth Advisory Centres - in King William's Town, Mdantsane and Gompo – received the items.

Makgato was happy that the City was showing an interest in education. "It's not the first time that Buffalo City has shown interest in education; earlier this year I was here to hand over school uniforms to needy learners," he said.

He also said that his department would budget for the city's Youth Advisory Centres for the next financial year.

"We are living in a world driven by technology and I'm happy that our learners will now have access to computers so that when they go to tertiary [institutions], they do not get left behind."

Makgato asked the beneficiaries to take care of their computers and to guard against theft and vandalism. "We hope you'll take care of them and make sure that they are not stolen - and if that happens we might think of installing servers in the schools so that these computers are used to the fullest."

Schools in Dimbaza, Nompumelelo and Tsholomnqa are some of the beneficiaries. The City's centres for the aged and One Stop Centres also received sewing machines, TV sets, video players, chairs and coffee tables.