School staff’s caring praised

Jane MacKenzie-Hoskyn sent this open letter to George Herald:

Dear Ms Schäffer

I would like to bring the following commendable deed to your attention.

Two young boys, Chisomo and Eddie Bwanali, who live on a smallholding near Wilderness, lost their father in a fatal car collision on Saturday night, 16 June. They both attend Hibernia Primary School in George. Their parents value education highly and are at PTA meetings as often as they can be.

Lastone 'Bush' Bwanali, their father, was missing for 3 days before the police could find out where he lived. The family was notified of his death early on Wednesday evening, 20 June. They are devastated at the loss of a husband to Annie and father to 2 young boys and a baby daughter.

Early the next day, I sent an e-mail to Hibernia Primary notifying them of the tragic news. I received a phone call from a very concerned Wilbur Pedro, the principal, soon after school started. He informed me that he would try to visit the boys on the following Saturday.

On Friday evening at 7:30, Pedro and 3 of his staff members arrived to support the boys - they gave up their Friday to travel 25 kilometres, from George to Langvlei Dunes, to show their love and support.

I would like to bring to attention the names of these teachers who went way beyond the call of duty: Vonita Johnson, Stanley Booysen and Abraham Jacobs.

Thank you to these teachers and Pedro for their commitment to education... and beyond!