PHALABORWA- Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality commemorated International Children’s Day this morning, December 4 at Municipal Activity Hall.
This is a day for children, by children, all over the world to help save children’s lives, fight for their rights, and help them fulfill their potential.
As part of celebrating this prestigious day, the Municipality hosted a Mayoral Children’s Day Poetry Tribute, wherein learners from various schools across Ba-Phalaborwa participated in the competition.
A grade 6 learner, Musa Gumede from Nwa-Risenga Primary School in Lulekani took the first place award. He received an iPad and a Trophy. In second place was Kgaugelo Malatji who was awarded a dictionary and pencil case. Rachel Mathebula came in third place and she received a diary and other goodies.
Mayor Merriam Malatji thanked the learners for participating in this competition.
The Mayor urged residents to protect the rights of the children. “Let us give them a chance to be children. We must ensure respect for every child’s fundamental human rights” she said.
She further said that as a parent, leader, and grandmother herself, she is aware that children face several challenges, some of them are as they are because of their parent’s negligence and abuse.
The Mayor also thanked IEMAS and Old Mutual for supporting this programme. “A special word of gratitude to IEMAS and OLD MUTUAL who have come on board this year as our partners. We want to express our deepest appreciation for your buy-in. Your support is invested in the Mayor’s, the scientists, and leaders of tomorrow,” she explained.
The Mayor appealed to learners to adhere to level 1 lockdown regulations. “Let us wear our masks, keep the social distance, and sanitize our hands. A merry Christmas and prosperous new year to all of us,” the mayor concluded.
