Close to 90% of the learners at the school received the shoes.
Former police spokesperson Leonard Hlathi has given to Bushbuckridge pupils 420 pairs of brand new shoes.
Hlathi said this is a way of giving back to Phaphama Primary School – the school he attended many decades ago in Mkhuhlu.
ALSO SEE: Leonard Hlathi leaves spokesperson job to be district deputy commander for visible policing
The shoes are a sponsorship that Hlathi requested from insurance company Liberty Life a year ago.
The department of education’s Jasper Zwane said Phaphama has a total of 472 learners and 420 of them got the shoes.
ALSO SEE: Leonard Hlathi loses his wife
Liberty Life said they have a corporate social investment program that they use to plough back to communities.
“Liberty Life cares about educational upliftment. Supporting education is key for Liberty Life as education drives developmental initiatives in society,” Mpumalanga manager Bheki Jiyane said.
Bonakele Majuba, MEC of education, said they hoped the assistance will encourage the learners to do well in their work and be responsible future citizens.
“We are appreciative of this public-private partnership as it uplifts the education and development agenda in our communities,” said Majuba.
(edited by ZK)
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