Hammanskraal - Selflessness to help others is one of the best qualities learners can emulate from the late former President Nelson Mandela, says Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.
“The biggest lesson is that you need to do things for yourself in order to uplift your own community not only in your own self-serving manner. Being selfless will assist the next person to be a better person,” he told SAnews shortly after donating two classrooms to the Matlaisane High School in Hammanskraal, on Monday.
In commemorating International Nelson Mandela Day, the Minister and National Treasury Director General Lungisa Fuzile, among others, handed over two new classrooms to the school located in Dertig village.
The National Treasury Charity Golf Day Fund adopted the school in 2013. With the proceeds of the charity fund in 2013, National Treasury built a steel structure in the quad area that used as an assembly point.
The two classrooms that the Minister handed over on Monday were built with the proceeds from 2014.
Addressing learners earlier in the day, Minister Nene said education had been very close to President Mandela’s heart.
“As government we recognise that in order for our people to break the bonds of poverty, we need to put education at the centre of our priorities. The National Development Plan is very clear that a highly skilled workforce will enable us to reap the benefits of the demographic dividend, enjoy the benefits of having a young productive workforce to grow our economy,” he explained.
The Minister said while the economy has not been performing well in the last couple of years government spending on education and health continue to grow strongly.
Over R650 billion will be spent on basic education over the next three years to ensure that there is improvement in quality education while the education department is spending R3.1 billion for bursaries for teachers.
Minister Nene said he was pleased the school had been identified and that he was happy with the working relationship between National Treasury and school Principal Philemon Kgoele.
“I am glad that were are honouring Madiba in this way. These classrooms are an example of what can be accomplished when people come together with no other goal than to serve their fellow man,” said Minister Nene.
Since the school’s adoption in 2013, nearly R1 million was spent on various refurbishments at the no-fee school.
“As we remember Nelson Mandela, I would like to remind us that each of us have a responsibility to carry on his legacy. As government our responsibility is to put the needs of the nation first, to act in a manner that shows respect for those we serve and pursue policies that will ultimately lead to peace in the land and prosperity for those that live in it.”
He urged the learners to do their best in their studies, adding that National Treasury will continue to work with the school.
Principal Kgoele said he was very happy with the handover of the two classrooms which increases the total number of classrooms to 18. “This will mean growth for our school,” said the Principal.
South Africans and the world celebrated Nelson Mandela’s birthday on Saturday as it was declared by the United Nations in 2009 as Nelson Mandela International Day.
The day is an initiative dedicated to giving back to those less fortunate, the vulnerable and marginalised in society.
Karabo Kganye a learner at the school said she is thankful for all that Mandela has done for the country. “He has changed our lives,” said Kganye. - SAnews.gov.za
