PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The office of the Bitou deputy mayor, Sandiso Gcabyai, has run several humanitarian outreach and relief programmes to improve the lives of Plettenberg Bay communities.
Firstly his office took on the "Right to Learn Campaign" in partnership with the municipality's library services.
"They visited and donated books and other learning material to some of the underprivileged schools in Plettenberg Bay. This is aimed at ensuring that the doors of learning are opened to even the needy children from our community," said municipal spokesperson Andile Namntu.
As part of the outreach programmes in schools, Gcabayi visited the Kwanokuthula Primary School to give needy and deserving learners some learning material. "However, he was touched by a sad story of one Grade 4 learner who could not attend school because she had no uniform.
Her family home - a shack - burned down and they lost everything in the fire. The deputy mayor made sure that he delivered the full uniform - shoes, socks, shirt and school jersey - to the learner.
She is now back at school and able to learn like all other learners," said Namntu.
After Gcabayi was consulted about the predicament of South Cape College students who had challenges with the National Financial Aid Scheme (NFSAS), his office also extended a helping hand to them.
Due to the non-payment of allowances by NSFAS, a large number of students were left stranded with no access to some of the most basic needs.
"In order to assist, the deputy mayor's office engaged various stakeholders and was able to donate toiletry, sanitary towels and food items (fresh vegetables, meat, starch and canned foods)."
This gesture was well received by the management and student body of the South Cape College.
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