Joyful Moment as MEC Pillay Hands over Furniture to a School
Story by Londiwe Ngqulunga & Pictures by Sibongile Dlangalala
Above: Learners from Junagarth Primary School excited to meet MEC Ravi Pillay
On Thursday 7 February 2019, Honourable MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Mr
Ravigasen Ranganathan Pillay paid a special visit to the Junagarth Primary School in
Merebank, east of Durban. The purpose of the visit was to hand over furniture to the school
donated by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works. According to Mr. Preggie Naidoo,
the school’s Head of Department (HOD), they have suffered from a shortage of desks and
chairs. The learners have physically outgrown the small furniture that they currently have at
the school and that has drove him to request a donation from Public Works. “We have a
challenge with furniture, small learners become bigger and they are sitting on small chairs,”
confirmed Mr. Naidoo.
Public Works, as ‘an implementing agent of choice’ was more than willing to donate 70 desks
and 15 chairs. Junagarth Primary School has 99.7 % intake of learners that are coming from
the nearest townships, which are Umlazi, and Lamontville. In his address to the learners, the
school’s principal, Mr Bhanprakash outlined the purpose of the special visit by the MEC. “The
MEC is here today and has brought along with him a gift for the school that will go a long way
especially to our senior learners,” said the Principal with confidence.
Above: MEC Pillay officially handing over the furniture to the school principal Mr A Bhanprakash
Addressing the learners, MEC Pillay mentioned that he felt honoured and privileged now that
he has met the young souls that will benefit from the furniture donation. He further
mentioned that it was his second visit to the school. “I was here on Mandela Day in 2017 and
I wish to repeat a very significant quote by Nelson Mandela that I hope will forever resonate
in your minds.” “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.
Education is the brain engine for personal growth”. In encouraging the learners, Mr Pillay said:
“I hope that you will bring positive change into the world in 10 to 15 years to come.”
The school had also organised a tree for the MEC to plant as a symbol of gratitude that he has
made the school. In his closing remarks, Mr Bhanprakash expressed his gratitude, “On behalf
of learners, educators, School Governing Body and the community at large, we send you a
very warm thanks to the MEC and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works, it is going
to go long way with our learners,” he said.
The display of joy and excitement from the learners as they were eagerly crowded to greet
and touch Mr Pillay’s hand was the centrepiece of the visit. However, it has been quite a
heart-warming experience for the school to receiving such long awaited commodities. The
donation by Mr Pillay and his department will forever stay in the minds of everyone in
attendance, especially to the learners and educators who remain at the coalface of education,
training and development. There is always a first time in lifee.
