Mpumalanga MEC for agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs Nompumelelo Hlophe is calling on learners and their educators at schools to establish food gardens as an extra-mural activity in their schools. She says the nutritional produce is also good for augmenting nutrition programmes in the schools. Hlophe visited Ekwazini Secondary School in Mhluzi in Middleburg on the first day of the 2025 academic year on Wednesday, January 15, as part of the Back to School Programme, but also to monitor the state of readiness and encourage the learners and their educators for the year ahead. On day two, Hlophe visited Sihlengiwe Secondary School in Wolvenkop near Verena also in the Nkangala District.
Ekwazini achieved a remarkable 93,5% matric pass rate from the class of 2024, while Sihlengiwe Secondary achieved 90.1%. During her address at both schools, Hlophe motivated learners and educators to commit to their work in the year ahead, and produce even better results. She helped establish food gardens at the schools, and reminded the learners to sustain them because the produce from food gardens help in augmenting in the meals cooked in the schools. Hlophe also hailed the schools for their level of cleanliness.
Accompanied by Thembisile Hani Local Municipality Executive Mayor Cllr Lesetja Dikgale, Hlophe also donated food garden starter packs, Agriculture Smart Boxes, school shoes and dignitary packs to learners. Ekwazini Secondary School in Mhluzi is home to Musa Dube, the
provincial top achiever who scored 300 out of 300 in Business Studies.
ENDS...
Issued by:
The Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs
Contact: Ms Zanele Shabangu (Head: Communication Services) 013 766 6133 / 072 089 9556