Police officer opens his heart to disadvantaged learners

People would expect a police officer to execute his duties of arresting and protecting the community, but there is one cop who has gone beyond the scope of his duty.

He recently opened his wallet and bought school uniforms for disadvantaged pupils. Oscar Sirovha donated uniforms to the disadvantaged learners of Letheba Secondary School in Limpopo last Friday.

Sirovha handed 11 pairs of school shoes, shirts and trousers to needy learners at the school. Sirovha said he dreaded seeing children going to school in tattered uniforms and barefooted.

"I know what it is like to go to school without support. I know how painful it is to be teased by other learners for not having the necessary uniforms," he said. Sirovha said some learners are not dropping out because of laziness, but from pressure and self-denial for not having a complete school uniform.

"I know from experience the difficulties that most of the families are facing concerning their children's schooling.

"I attempted LLB at University in 2003 and dropped out, due to financial problems, and this gave me a lot of stress," he said.

Sirovha said he was lucky to have been selected as a trainee policeman by the SAPS in 2005. "This gave me hope in life and I told myself that I had to do something to thank God for giving me the opportunity to work and fend for my family," he said.

He said when the opportunity came, he at once did what he always thought he would do, which is ploughing back to the community.

He said people are blessed in order that they bless others who are less fortunate and he was doing just that.

One unemployed parent, Gladys Motadi, said the uniforms would instill a sense of confidence in the learners and they would attend classes without any pressure from other learners.