NORTH WEST MEC DISTRIBUTES SCHOOL UNIFORMS TO LEARNERS IN BLYDEVILLE TOWNSHIP

By Obusitswe Keboneilwe

• Fifty young learners in Blydeville township were given a set of new school uniforms today – providing a sense of dignity to the children and their parents.
• While presenting the clothing during a school visit, the North West MEC for Social Development, Basetsana Sussana Dantjie, raised the important topic of tackling gender-based violence through refusing to remain silent.
• The distribution of the school uniforms was part of the province’s ever-growing flagship social support programme Re Thuse Re Go Thuse.

As the North West South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) provided 50 learners with complete sets of school uniforms, the pandemic of gender-based violence in the province was not lost on the MEC for Social Development, Basetsana Sussana Dantjie.

Gender-based violence is flourishing because many survivors tolerate it, the MEC noted, telling the people attending the handing over of the uniforms at the Sensako Primary School in Blydeville, near Lichtenburg, on 21 April 2026. “The main driver of gender-based violence is silence and tolerance.”

MEC Dantjie added: “At the first slap, be decisive and leave. You cannot jeopardise your life over lavish lifestyles. Parents must also reject gifts and food that woo their children, only to pay the ultimate price.”

The distribution of the school uniforms was part of the province’s ever-growing flagship social support programme of Re Thuse Re Go Thuse, with 22 boys and 28 girls receiving brand new school clothes.

SASSA District Manager in the Ngaka Modiri Molema Municipality, Solly Nobela, indicated that out of the 719 learners enrolled at the school, 612 of them receive a monthly Child Support Grant, which comes to about R500 000 a month. “This is our commitment to seeing a better future for our children.”

The combined total for the uniforms distributed today was estimated at R271 000.

MEC Dantjie appealed to parents to ensure that their children developed good hygiene habits. “In the package, there are enough uniforms to allow for their clothes to be washed while the child is at school. We want to see the child presentable at all times.”

Dantjie acknowledged that, given the living conditions of the children, the presentation of the school uniforms had to go further.

“We will see to it that all recipients today get nutritious packs of food parcels,” the MEC said, adding that her department would look beyond the selected families, with an additional 50 food packages to be given to other vulnerable people in the community.

“Our order of priority is for child-headed families, survivors of gender-based violence, and persons with disabilities. However, our social workers may use their discretion to give to those who desperately need assistance.”

MEC Dantjie also cautioned the parents against abusing the Child Support Grants. “We understand your difficulties, but the grant is for the children, not your personal needs.”

She added that SASSA had heard of incidents where parents gamble in an attempt to double the money. “That is wrong – it is similar to moving to different towns, leaving the child behind, but not their beneficiary cards.”

Grandparents should also not be burdened with an extra mouth to feed, while the child’s parents use the grant as their salary, the MEC added.

The principal of the school, Tladi Sedikane, thanked the MEC and SASSA representatives.

“This is life-changing. You have, in one swoop, restored the sense of confidence and equality to our learners. This powerful gesture brings hope not only to our learners and their families, but to the community at large.”