Lecturers pledge beyond Mandela Day

THE Sedibeng TVET College Vanderbijlpark campus marked Mandela Day by donating non-perishable foods, sanitary towels for girls, and soup for students.

College lecturer, Winnie Moroke highlighted the reality that many students frequently express their hunger during school hours.

"Today as lecturers, we decided that from today we are going to donate something from our salaries to ensure that students have something to eat every day. The college faces numerous challenges that hinder students' learning, but hunger shouldn't be one of them," he said.

Moroke further said if a student is absent from school, it often means they must stay at home.

Therefore, the lecturers at Sedibeng College have resolved to contribute a portion of their salaries towards providing meals for students. They are also calling on the community to contribute non-perishable foods and sanitary towels, as some students who are not beneficiaries of NSFAS are struggling.

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"But even those beneficiaries of Nsfas have been facing hardships since the start of the year due to non-payments," Moreko added.

"We are not just lecturers but also parents, and when we enter the gates of the college, we take responsibility for these kids. Today, on Mandela Day, we are feeding more than 2000 students, which shows the dire need for daily sustenance. This has deeply moved us as lecturers and management of the campus," she added.

Acting campus manager, Sello Mafela, spoke to the SunTeam about their commitment as a responsible institution to combat the challenges faced by students.

"We want to fight hunger by lending a helping hand, and we have decided that this initiative will extend beyond Mandela Day. The campus's hospitality department will ensure that every student receives a meal daily. The staff has committed to contributing from their salaries each month to guarantee there is food at the college, as without the students, they would not have jobs," Mafela said.