South Africa and the world has celebrated the former president Nelson Mandela’s birthday on Monday 18 July 2011 through a myriad of activities , which included lending an helping hand to other people and trying to reflect Mandela’s humane spirit.

Tata Madiba as he is commonly known to the nation sets the standards for service worldwide , whether we are learners , students , educators or school principles. He calls on us to serve our fellow human beings and better our communities.

As a Department we engaged in various activities to show our selfless commitment to improve and change the lives of peoples of the poorest of the poor and most vulnerable. We repainted the picket fences at Sinathando Children’s home , we painted murals on the walls in order make the environment more conducive for them , we provided them a DVD player and educational videos which can be used a medium of enhancing their cognitive development.

Therefore as an extension of our Mandela Day Program and our Winter Relief Program to the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable I would hereby like to handover the school uniforms to the 76 identified learners of Emang Mmogo Comprehensive School in Kimberley , 20 to learners from Lowerville Comprehensive School and 16 to learners from Umso Intermediate School in Colesberg

The main reason why we are here today because as Government we are building a caring society together. We want to restore some dignity in our children who are faced with embarrassment at not having the proper school attire and that must brace the cold winter days without been dressed warmly.

Education as we know is one of the steps out of poverty and therefore Government is emphasing that we must attend school and matriculate. However whilst attending school it is expected of us to concentrate and capture what we are being taught , but how do we do this if we are getting cold and shivering and we are hungry. Therefore with me being able to handover these school uniforms to you I can proudly say that we are making an impact in your lives.

We realize that it is a drop in the ocean and that we cannot reach everybody but trust that we have made changes in the lives that those who we are going to reach more especially the most needy.

We do not want you to attend school with torn, old clothing and make it difficult for you to feel confident both socially and academically amongst your peers. We want to unfold your full potential in order to ensure that nothing hold you back from achieving your dreams.

In conclusion I would like to end off with a quotation from Nelson Mandela “ The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children”

I thank you