The Minister of Basic Education has urged South Africa's youth to "move forward where Nelson Mandela left off."
Angie Motshekga reminded learners that what they need to do now, is to learn and practice respect for all, and to ensure that they perform well in school.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic and the national lockdown that followed, South Africa was facing an increase in the rate of learners dropping out of schools. The dropout rate paired with the unemployment rate has had detrimental effects on the youth.
Motshekga was part of the Mandela Month Commemoration, where she visited Jet Ntao Secondary School in Boipatong and Emmanuel Primary School in Sharpeville; both schools are located in the Gauteng province.
The Mandela Month Commemorations is part of the Ministerial Roadshows, which has the aim of providing timely interventions to challenges faced by schools.
Each school went on to receive gardening equipment donated by Nestlé, as well as fertilizers from Greener Pastures. In addition to gardening equipment, the schools received a generous donation of R200 000 from MIET Africa to help schools with Winter Essentials they may need.
Motshekga said during her address at one of the schools, that the time the Department has taken during the month of July is not to be taken lightly.
"It's not anything light; it's something very serious, very deep, that we have to honour those who came before us, and in our corners, acknowledge that which they sacrificed."
The Department of Basic Education embarks on and engages in commemorative activities to highlight national holidays, historic anniversaries and significant events. Mandela Month is a prime example of that.
