First Lady of Limpopo Mrs Margaret Mathabatha has warned Grade 12 pupils to be very focused on their studies.

She addressed the 12 pupils of Sinugani Secondary last Friday, as part of a back-to-school campaign that was initiated by the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Magau village.

She asked pupils to refrain from drug abuse and ill discipline and emphasised that pupils should be obedient to their teachers. “Say no to drugs and listen to your teachers. You must arrange extra classes and aim to obtain a 100% pass rate this year,” she told pupils.

The principal, Mr Thizwilondi Masuka, promised that the teachers and pupils would work hard to obtain a 100% pass rate this year.  

Mrs Mathabatha also thanked the Pentecostal Holiness Church for the initiative. “We honour those people for what they do every day. They don’t wait for but initiate programmes,” she said.

Through this initiative, the church donated R1 500 to the best 2014 Grade 12 pupil of Sinugani Secondary. Mrs Mathabatha also added R1 500.

The church bought 30 pairs of shoes, backpacks and pairs of socks and also found a sponsorship for another 25 pairs of shoes and socks. The shoes were donated to pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds in the village. Various pupils from Sinugani secondary, Magau primary and Matavhanani primary schools benefited from the initiative.

The church’s event organiser, Mr Livhuwani Mutobvu, said the initiative was to help disadvantaged pupils in the community. “We are planning to do it annually. This will help learners to focus on their education without any distraction,” he said.