Author: Maleruo Leponesa

By Maleruo Leponesa and Luvuyo Mjekula Schools are meant to be places of safety, where parents send their children to get an education and not be raped. These were the words of Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube in Makhanda this week. Gwarube was addressing learners, educators and guests at the annual Uyinene Mrwetyana Memorial Lecture at Kingswood College on Monday. The minister went on to reflect on a “heavy week” of children who have been sexually assaulted in their schools, by adults who are meant to protect them. “This week I learnt of a young child – Cwecwe from eMatatiele – not…

By Maleruo Leponesa This Library Week (17-21 March), a group of dedicated Rhodes University librarians marked another milestone in their quest to develop primary school libraries by installing new shelving at the Grahamstown Seventh Day Adventist School (SDA). Last year, the Rhodes Library’s Siyafunda eMakhanda team delivered books, shelves, cushions and carpets to Grade 1 classrooms in four schools: Samuel Ntlebi, CM Vellum, Makana Primary and SDA. The team built reading corners with diverse children’s books and comfortable cushions decorated with’ funda’ and ‘read’. The classroom libraries were sponsored by the SALI Trust and were designed to create an inviting,…