Mandela Month will conclude on Friday with a R150 000 donation of educational equipment and learning materials to Thiboloha Special School in the Free State, in a partnership between the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) and the Chinese Embassy in South Africa.
Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Seiso Mohai will lead the Mandela Month outreach at the school in Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality, on Friday.
The donation forms part of government’s commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day, held this year under the theme, “It is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity”.
Thiboloha Special School caters for learners from Grade R to Grade 12 living with deafness, blindness, autism and intellectual disabilities.
The school has been identified for developmental support, including learning aids, sports equipment, boarding-house essentials and infrastructure improvements.
The DPME said the donation would help address the educational needs of learners and assist teachers in creating a more inclusive learning environment.
The initiative follows discussions between Mohai and Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng on possible support for the school and broader cooperation linked to the District Development Model initiatives in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District.
The Chinese Embassy subsequently agreed to support the Mandela Month initiative, as well as planned work around an investment summit and related social compacting processes in the district.
The partnership highlights the role of collaboration between government, international partners and communities in addressing local development challenges, according to the department.
The DPME said the Thiboloha initiative demonstrates how partnerships can translate Mandela Day’s call for action into practical support for communities, particularly children with disabilities.
Mandela International Day is observed annually on 18 July, the birthday of former President Nelson Mandela, with the month-long campaign encouraging individuals and organisations to contribute to efforts aimed at addressing poverty, inequality and other social challenges. – SAnews.gov.za
