Mandela Day help
Offenders give school a facelift
BULEMBU Primary School, situated on the outskirts of King William’s Town, benefited immensely from the 67 minutes for Mandela Day by getting a facelift last Wednesday.
Department of Correctional Services (DCS) staff, probationers and offenders equipped with garden tools, brooms and paint brushes, rolled up their sleeves to help upgrade the school, which caters for 220 pupils from grade R to 7.
They cut the grass, painted the roof and walls, cleaned windows and mopped the floors, to the excitement of staff, pupils, and members of the governing body.
King William’s Town acting head of Community Corrections, Sergeant Tom said the school was adopted by the DCS at the beginning of the year. “The school was adopted by KWT Community Corrections during the back-to-school campaign and ever since then, we have been cleaning the school and have donated a school uniform to one of the top achievers,” Tom said, who added that if their work was not completed on the day, they would return to finish it.
Amathole Management Area communication coordinator Sivuyisiwe Matanga told the Go & Express that 15 DCS officials, 12 probationers and 12 offenders participated in the project.
“Projects like these assist the department to reintegrate offenders back into society.
“It is a way they show remorse for what they have done,” Matanga said.
School head Xolisani Mgolombane said: “I am over-the-moon and feel truly honoured by the Ubuntu shown by the department, it is deeply appreciated by the school and all the communities it serves.” Elated SGB chairperson Nandipha Ndlazulwana said: “Our beloved school will be new again and this day will always be remembered and treasurer not only by us but all these kids of the school ... ”