RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - Thursday, 21 August, will be a day forever etched into the memories of the communities of Zinniaville and Karlien Park.
In a showcase of building friendship, supporting learners and uplifting communities, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, visited Zinniaville Secondary School to gift learners of the school, as well as learners from Karlien Park Primary School, with 440 books and sports kits.
Minister McKenzie, who made a low-key arrival to the school, displayed a charismatic presence the entire afternoon, joyfully interacting with learners and community members, posing for photos, shaking hands and flashing a broad smile.
In his address, he referred to the learners as “my children”, encouraging them to “have a dream”, just as he had. “I come from a poor family. My mom was a domestic worker. I took everything as a joke when I was in school and was expelled many times. But I learnt and grew from these experiences.”
McKenzie, who has a checkered past, is not without controversy and even spent a part of his life incarcerated, summarised his life’s journey by saying, “ I was a gangster, but I gave my heart to the Lord and changed my life. Today I am a cabinet minister.”
Representatives of the Department of Basic Education were also in attendance and during the afternoon’s proceedings, it became clear that the aim was to use sports, arts and culture as instruments in “enhancing learning”. “We want to foster social cohesion and nation building and want schools to produce future athletes,” the programme director commented.
Zinniaville Secondary School was praised as “one of the most diverse schools in Rustenburg,” according to the North West MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, Virginia Tlhapi. “We care about learners up to national level, because sport has the capacity to build and teaches discipline.” She also encouraged parents to support their children in all aspects of their schooling careers.
With a promise rendered by both Karlien Park Primary and Zinniaville Secondary to put the sporting equipment to “good use” and make the dignitaries “proud”, Ward Councillor Luan Snyders concluded with the message of: “Let this investment inspire you to reach your full potential”.
