The City’s Human Settlements department has donated over 150 pairs of school shoes to children in need in the Johannesburg inner city, restoring their hope for a brighter future. The donation was made in partnership with the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSCHO), with the school shoes handed over by the MMC for Human Settlements, Cllr Anthea Leitch at Lapeng Hall in Region F.

“Many kids are leaving school, and some are embarrassed to even admit that they don’t want to go to school because they don’t have the appropriate shoes or a jersey against the cold weather in winter,” said Cllr Leitch.

Themed “Back to School Drive,” the donation will benefit school children of JOSCHO tenants at AA House, Europa House, Hoek Street and Union Square buildings.

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) at JOSCHO, Themba Mathibe, as well as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Nontobeko Ndimande, attended the event. 

Cllr Leitch expressed her commitment to making this a regular event during her tenure as MMC, with plans to donate shoes to more children in various areas.

“The onus is on us as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbours, and leaders of our communities to bring back that excitement and that dignity of being a pupil,” she said.

Ward councillors Ian Nonkumbi and Sihle Zuse praised the MMC for the initiative and encouraged JOSCHO tenants to continue paying their rent so the City can support other communities.

The MMC emphasised the importance of ensuring all children have appropriate school shoes, as it should not be a reason for them to miss school.

“Our kids not having shoes is an indictment on all of us as adults. I promise to go out of my way for us to donate more shoes to accommodate more kids. We simply cannot have a lack of school shoes being the reason why our kids are staying home and not wanting to attend school,” MMC Leitch said.