Westerford pupils agree to help
HUMAN Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has asked Westerford High School pupils to assist Imizamo Yethu residents to rebuild their homes, destroyed by recent fires and storms, and to donate uniforms and study books.
Sisulu visited the school yesterday to share her personal journey and insights with the Grade 12 history pupils, covering the topics of 1976, going into exile and her activities with the ANC in exile during the 1980s.
Her visit at Westerford High School was part of the school’s Youth Day commemoration.
She asked the pupils to join her initiatives to rebuild the lives of Imizamo Yethu victims.
“It is important for the children here who have a multi-cultural ethos to be part of understanding how other people live and getting people out of their difficulties and being able to help them.
“People of Imizamo Yethu will get to understand that so many other people care. Children who are looked at as coming from privileged backgrounds will be there to assist them to build their houses,” Sisulu said.
Addressing principal Rob le Roux, Sisulu said: “Allow your students to join us in Hout Bay (Imizamo Yethu) to help those in need.
“It will mean you as students of Westerford have contributed to putting a shelter on somebody.
“Once you do that you will feel proud.”
She asked the pupils not to hesitate when taking a decision to assist because “the weather (conditions) out there is horrible”.
Sisulu said she shared the same values of ubuntu that the school community shared.
The pupils and youth had a role to play in maintaining the values of democracy in South Africa, she said.
“It is for them (pupils) to play their part and continue on the path that we have started.
“We have a great country and we need to keep it as it was.
“We made a great deal of sacrifices and they have a responsibility to understand it and take it forward,” she said.
Grade 12 pupil Siphosethu Xamlashe said the school was honoured to be visited by Sisulu and the pupils had agreed to help in Imizamo Yethu however they could.
Le Roux said the school was looking forward to Sisulu’s next visit.
Meanwhile, Sisulu’s Department of Human Settlements yesterday announced that she, together with the MECs of Human Settlements, had approved adjustments to the country’s social housing programme.
This comes after the launch of one of the biggest social housing projects in the country – Westgate Social Housing Project in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal.
Imizamo Yethu will get to understand that so many other people care