Education Activist Hendrick Makaneta called on South Africans to prioritize education for the sake of their children.  The late former president Nelson Mandela was correct when he said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Yet there are still children roaming the streets of South Africa without regard for education.

Makaneta called on Parliament to strengthen legislation that will make it very difficult for children of school going age to roam the streets of our townships and villages. “All children belong in schools. No child should be allowed to have the freedom to walk anywhere during school hours without any valid excuse.” Makaneta said.

Government must deploy special police who must be on the lookout for children of school going age who are not in schools during school hours.
“We are aware that there are also children who go to school in order to receive grants from SASSA. Such children only go to school when they need their SASSA forms to be completed and thereafter they stay away from school.” Makaneta added.

The state has a duty to educate her people. Minister Angie Motshekga has correctly indicated that South Africa is not a reading nation.

To this end we call upon the State to ensure that our people are encouraged to read. Recent acts of xenophobic violence are proof that our people do not read. If the nation can read enough, people will begin to understand that Africans belong together as opposed to the current notion where people think that our foreign brothers and sisters are taking their jobs.

Issued by Education Activist Hendrick Makaneta