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