MANKWENG - The Deputy Minister of Police Mr Cassel Mathale (MP) and Deputy Minister in the Presidency Ms Thembi Siweya (MP) joined by SAPS engaged learners at Doasho High School in the Mankweng policing precinct on Tuesday 31 January 2023 as part of the Safer Back to School Awareness Campaign.
The Deputy Ministers were joined by the Traditional Authorities of Mamabolo as well as the SAPS Capricorn District Commissioner Major General Lesiba Mashilo.
The Program Director Mr Zakes Mogashoa kick-started the program by calling forward the Principal of Doasho Secondary School Mr Mmaphee Lediga to present the profile of the School to the Deputy Ministers and the District Commissioner in the midst of the two Councils of Mankweng Traditional Authority.
The information presented was that Doasho Secondary School was established in 1985. It was reported that the strength of the school lies in Choral Music and Sports, Soccer in particular.
"Former Soccer star Mr Hlompho Kekana was also a learner at Doasho Secondary School before graduating to become a house hold soccer star of International Stature. The first Principal of the School was Mr Rameetse and the first Matric was the class of 1989", said Mr Lediga.
It is reported that the Deputy Minister in the Presidency also attended Winter Learning Intervention program at Doasho Secondary School when she was doing Matric in 1999.
Deputy Minister in the Presidency Ms Thembi Siweya addressed the learners and all other attendees.
Deputy Minister pointed out that there were gifts such as School uniform to be handed out to the needy learners as well as Sanitary towels,
"It is just a token of appreciation to the community to show that the Government of the Republic of South Africa is caring about the children” said the Deputy Minister Ms Siweya.
Deputy Minister Siweya encouraged learners to study hard and she further strongly condemned bullying and also warned the learners against bringing along their cellphones to School. "I attended winter learning classes here at Doasho Secondary School when I was repeating my matric" said Deputy Minister Siweya.
Deputy Minister of Police Mr Cassel Mathale when rendering a message of support told Learners that it was good to learn that pass rate of this school has been gradually and constantly increasing in the past three academic years in matric results and now their target for class of academic year 2023 was 84%.
Deputy Minister Mathale encouraged the learners to study harder and even more to an extent that they should study in groups to pick up one another in their studies.
Deputy Minister of Police Mr Cassel Mathale condemned peers in Gangsterism and other criminal activities. "We are here as Ministers and Commissioners because we have attended School and learned through the guidance of our Parents and our teachers," said Deputy Minister Mathale.
Deputy Minister further instructed the District Commissioner Major General Mashilo to adopt this school.
Deputy Minister in the Presidency Ms Thembi Siweya handed over the gifts of school uniform and sanitary towels to the Principal Mr Lediga and School Governing Body Chairperson Mrs Eulendah Rasekhokga who would in turn hand the same to the needy learners at the School.
Learners were ecstatic and celebrated the gifts they received from Deputy Minister in the Presidency Ms Thembi Siweya as well as the Provincial Management of the SAPS and the Acting Station Commander of Mankweng SAPS Colonel Komane Mathabatha.
Source: South African Police Service