Needy schoolgirls receive sanitary pads

MUNICIPALITY LEADS CAMPAIGN

SCHOOLGIRLS at schools that fall under the Westonaria local municipality will have their dignity restored after the council partnered with a charity organisation to provide sanitary towels to all needy schools.

Yesterday ‚ the municipality together with the Westonaria Community Trust and Thembekile Man- dela Foundation gave out 6 382 sanitary towels to needy girl pupils at Kgothalang Secondary School in Bekkersdal to mark the launch of the programme.

The municipality said its research showed that a massive number of girls were absent from school during their menstrual period as there was no support to help the poor in this regard.

This programme will run for the next five years and distribution will be done every month at each school where there are pupils requiring the sanitary towels.

“We are responding to the demands where some girl learners who during their menstrual period are not attending school as they should because they cannot afford to buy sanitary towels. Some resort to unhealthy materials or fabrics and we cannot allow this to happen ” said mayor Nonkoliso Tundzi.

“We want to create a hospitable environment where all learners are equal irrespective of their unfortunate backgrounds and can enjoy their learning. I hope this will bring confidence to the affected learners.”

The Thembekile Mandela Foundation, established by Nelson Mandela ’ s granddaughter Thembekile, aims to promote the late former president ’ s legacy. It focuses on health and education programmes in struggling communities.

Westonaria municipality ’ s revenue has over the years been reduced by the depressed mining sector in the area, as poverty levels increased.