TONGA - Stemming from a school safety project, three learners from Mphoti Primary School, will now be walking to school in new shoes.

It all originated on Tuesday, when members from SAPS Tonga, while conducting a Safety Awareness Campaign, identified a learner without school shoes.

A follow-up was done and it was established that the learner, the 13-year-old Welcome Msane, is staying with his unemployed parents. The situation touched Sgt Phuthuma Madonsela who brought it to the attention of the Station Commander, Brig Velisiwe Mdaka. Funds were raised by the police station and nn January 25, Msane received two pairs of school shoes.

During the handing over of the shoes, it came to light that two more learners were in need of shoes. Bongumusa Ntiwane (13), who is staying with his grandmother and Bongumusa Ngobeni (13), who is staying with his mother, a farm worker, were taken to Tonga Mall where the police bought them each a pair of shoes.

Both the school principal, Thokozile Mubi and the school’s governing body secretary, Hendry Shabangu, were so emotional that they could not hold their tears. 

Mubi said she will hence-forth have a different picture when it comes to the police. All these years she knew that police only entertained crime related issues, but never once did she ever think that they can also take care of the needy.

Shabangu said this was an eye opener to them as a community, and now that they’ve set an example, it will encourage them to assist disadvantaged children. He said when they do fundraisers in future, they will no longer concentrate on year-end functions, but on empowering learners. 

The Provincial Commissioner of  police in Mpumalanga, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma, applauded the enthusiasm displayed by the officers. He said it would go a long way in eliminating the trust deficit that exists between the police and the community.

Submitted by: Brig Leonard Hlathi