"I urge you all to work hard and let nothing disturb your potential, because your future is in your own hands!"
Pentecostal Holiness Church's Bishop Mulingoni Lalamani told pupils from Sinugani Secondary and Magau Primary schools to focus on their studies during a school-uniform donation function at Magau village.
"Today children are misbehaving all the time," he said. "They disobey parents and guardians. Children who do not listen to advice from parents and elders get to a stage where they live in a pool of pain and regrets," he said
The local Pentecostal Holiness Church donated 60 pairs of shoes, 60 pairs of socks, 50 schoolbags and 20 shirts to the two schools. A R1 000 voucher was given to a Grade 11 pupil to buy either books or stationery from a bookshop.
The church's representative, Mr Thatheni Mulaudzi, said that it was the church's responsibility to clothe needy pupils. "We can't just fold our arms, sit back and watch while there are children who go to school barefoot," he said.
The principal of Sinugani Secondary, Mr Sonnyboy Masuka, thanked the church and all stakeholders who were involved in making sure that the needy pupils had received some uniforms. "This good work of goodwill is being seen by all people here in the district," he said.
PhalaPhala FM's Ofhani Muebi motivated the pupils. He recited his poetry and told some jokes to the pupils. "Many pupils fail to make it through school because they have no respect for their teachers," he said. "Teachers are workers and if you do not respect them, you are the one who gets to repeat a grade. Children who disrespects teachers also do not listen during lessons." It was not the first time that the church has donated to local schools. Last year they donated at least 45 pairs of shoes and cash prizes.