April 2014 Progress Report

January 15, 2014

  • National School Opening Day in Kungwini
  • Motivational speeches with MEC Wadee at schools at Rethabiseng and Ekangala followed by Town Hall meeting with parents and ANC and PCO Members
  • Schools and students congratulated on 93% pass of high school students in the district

January 22, 2014

  • Civil unrest in Kungwini due to high electricity bills associated with merger of municipality with Pretoria.
  • Boycotts, marches and speeches resulting in violence
  • Burning of tires and stones blockading of streets and main roads
  • Police riot squad called in

January 23, 2014

  • Boycotts continue with violence and 18 arrests
  • Unrest spreads to neighbouring townships Ekangala, Cullinan and Delmas
  • Students and teachers unable to get to schools

January 27, 2014

  • Meeting with Principle and Staff at Sizanane amidst the civil unrest
  • Review past years admissions and needs
  • 45 new kids admitted this past year
  • No new staff – 2 staff died of pneumonia and 1 hospitalized
  • Burning of library, police station and homes and businesses in townships of Zithobeni Rethabiseng and Ekangala

January 29, 2014

  • Regular school day
  • Assessing new admissions and follow up of previous concerns

January 31, 2014

  • Awards day for high school achieves of the district of Medswetting
  • Attended gala at Rayton Community Hall awarding the class of 2013
  • 100 people including parents attended philosophical speech

February 2, 2014

  • Violence and property destruction
  • Teachers and kids unable to come to school
  • District wide boycott
  • Police and riot forces on defensive
  • 18 arrests in court
  • Heavy rains day and night for 2 weeks limiting access to school

February 19, 2014

  • Teachers incentives day
  • 30 staff members given gift certificates

March 6, 2014

  • School day at Sizanane
  • 4 wheelchairs presented (Need 9 more!)
  • Heart breaking event

March 12, 2014

  • School day
  • Assessments and counselling
  • Visited victims of burnt homes – counselling until dusk

March 18, 2014

  • Collected vaccines from Fourways Hospital thanks to Shabir Banoo and Abdur Rahim
  • 3 children taken to appointments with Dr Dahiya for eye disorders (ophthalmologist)

March 19, 2014

  • Influenza vaccination day 1 at Sizanane
  • All kids parents and staff had given consent – all examined before shots
  • No complications
  • 1 schizophrenic child refused vaccine
  • All smiles especially with candies and pictures

March 20, 2014

  • Second day of school vaccination program – had 178 vaccines left –
  • Vaccinated all the consent approved kids and entire staff of the Sizanane and St. Josephs Catholic Mission Complex including the staff and caregivers
  • 6 wheelchairs presented to needy kids

March 25, 2014

  • Our last day at Sizanane
  • School assembly and farewell songs and prayers with staff and kids
  • Plenty of gifts and tears
  • Employment contract with Nurse Crista Botha given
  • 6 Epads given to children with autism