They are stars in the award-winning Munghana Lonene soapie Mina Hi Mina and what they did on Friday is in sharp contrast to the roles they play in the soapie. Mina Hi Mina was recently crowned as the SABC’s best radio drama.

“In the soapie, I am Mevhasi, a woman who is jealous and gossips, but in real life I am Beauty Hlayisi, a caring person,” said the 63-year-old pensioner at the presentation of uniforms to ten pupils at Magomani Primary Malamulele. She and and two other actors, Mahungu Eric Phamela and Tryphina Gavaza Mthembi, presented the uniforms to the pupils. They also gave a bag to the best pupil at the rural school.

“The money comes from our pockets and we did not seek donations from any quarter,” said Hlayisi. She and Mthembi are from Tzaneen, while Phamela is from Malamulele and teaching at the same school.

Hlayisi said they decided to do something after seeing Munghna Lonene doing so many things in the area in terms of social responsibility. She said Phamela called her and asked that they do something after he had seen so much poverty at the school. “The roles that we play in the soapie do not portray what and how we are in real life," she added.

Mthembi plays Mihloti, a woman who snatches other people’s husbands and Phamela plays Jackson, a driver on the farms "whose only mistake is making love to other people’s wives".

Phamela added that they are all Christians and are responsible people.

One of the appreciative parents, Margaret Mbhiza, whose child Amukelani had received a new uniform, said: “I am unemployed and unmarried with six kids and there is nowhere I would have got uniforms for my child,” she said.