Premier’s happy birthday party
CHRISTMAS came early for children at a King William’s Town child and youth care centre yesterday when premier Noxolo Kiviet showered them with gifts.
Kiviet was at the centre to spend time with the children as part of her 49th birthday.
The children sang “happy birthd to the premier as she arrived at the hall. Kiviet dished out school uniforms, shoes, school bags and other goodies. She also handed over a R50 000 cheque to the facility.
Cutting and sharing her cake with the children, she asked about their needs.
Kiviet said she wanted to spend her birthday with the children at the centre because as a mother she loved children.
“I want to spend an hour with you because I am a mother. I love all children. They are a gift of God,” she said. “I felt I needed to eat the cake with you so that we can all be happy.”
Kiviet said she chose the centre because she had been told the children were very respectful and treated each other with love.
“I felt I should return that love to you,” she said, adding that she wanted to see how they survived at a facility which was reportedly battling financially.
While the youngest children told her their names, surnames and clan names, it was the older ones that told her they needed blazers, track-suits, and computers.
Kiviet told the children she was confident the facility would produce a premier, president, workers and teachers.
She urged them to respect the caregivers and have the right attitude that would propel them to greater heights in life.
“It is not so much your aptitude that determines your altitude but your attitude,” said Kiviet sharing her motto with the children.
“If you have the right attitude, you will go places. It will propel you to greater heights.”
The centre’s co-director Nomsa Mantoyi said the visit had made a huge difference to them.
“It has put a smile on these little ones,” Mantoyi said.
She also thanked Kiviet for donating money which they used to buy groceries, uniforms and pay debts. — mayibongwem@dispatch.
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