The Motsepe Foundation has donated more than R8m towards information and communication technology (ICT) equipment in 27 schools across Soweto.
Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi and minister of basic education Angie Motshekga attended the handover event which was held at Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Rockville, Soweto.
Patrice Motsepe and his wife Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe could not attend as they are self-isolating after someone they had attended an event with on Wednesday tested positive for Covid-19.
Each of the 27 schools received a cheque for R300,000.
Lesufi warned the schools to use the money wisely.
"I will keep an eye on all the schools that will receive the money. I will add an extra audit to make sure the money is used wisely," he said.
Motshekga said they are convinced that it is only education that can end the apartheid government-inspired generational curse of poverty and illiteracy.
"We need more business people to grow the courage and invest in the future of our land," she said.
"We are pleased that our partnership with the Motsepe Foundation will make a significant impact on the quality of education that our learners receive in public schooling. The Motsepe Foundation’s intervention is critical for the improvement of quality education in all these schools."
Motshekga said the donation was significant because it addressed the needs of the schools across all areas of learning.
"Truth be told, ICT equipment is the new gold in the education sector. The extent of a schools’ resources such as ICTs has a direct impact on the daily lives of learners and teachers. The 27 schools in Soweto deserve the ICT equipment support as they exist in under-serviced communities," she said.
Motshekga assured the Motsepe Foundation that the benefiting schools will use the ICT equipment to inject new life into the priority programmes that seek to improve learning outcomes.
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