MEDIA RELEASE
2025-10-17
SUMMARY: On 13 October 2025, the Labour Party of South Africa (Labour Party) fulfilled its promise by donating a Reading Corner in recognition of World Literacy Day. The Labour Party had a ribbon-cutting ceremony as they ushered children into their new classroom. The school Principal tearfully thanked the Labour Party for keeping their promise.
On Monday 13 October 2025, the Labour Party of South Africa (Labour Party) kept its promise. After observing the state of a community pre-school in Mpumalanga, Nkangala Region- the leaking roof, lack of flooring, worn walls, and an overall dilapidated classroom, the Labour Equality intervened.
Partly in celebration of World Literacy Day, which was on 8 September the Labour Party substructure called Labour Equality earmarked this pre-school for a project to disrupt the status quo and make a difference, by donating a Reading Corner.
In media reports, the South Africa Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) expressed concern for the 81% of Grade 4 (four) learners in South Africa who cannot read for meaning.
“As South Africans we must be concerned with this statistic. We can’t be sending our children to school for an education that will leave them unemployable and unskilled”, said Joseph Mathunjwa, interim President of the Labour Party.
The consequences of such statistics include lack of literacy skills, advocacy skills and communication and comprehension capabilities.
This is also argued in the IOL’s recent publication, similarly noting that about 70% of the learners in Grade 6 lack proficiency in English or Afrikaans.
“South Africa must understand that if the children at these early ages already struggle to read – we will be a nation in a serious crisis” marked Mathunjwa.Investing in decent and dignified Early Childhood Development (ECD) ensures that not only is the individual child equipped to progress in their academic journey, but that
South Africa produces critical thinkers, innovators and specialists.
The Labour Party managed to structurally renovate a dilapidated classroom which was not conducive for children, the future of South Africa, to learn in. This included the fitting of a new ceiling, plastering of walls, painting of the walls, levelling of the floors and a new carpet installation, and installing fixed bookshelves.
“We cannot blame the teachers. From local municipalities, we believe that this neglect is the result of the misappropriation of funds dedicated to ensuring that children from ECD level have a clean environment to learn in and is adequately resourced” noted Mathunjwa.
The Labour Party also donated reading books and other educational resources including puzzles, posters, and furniture.
The Labour Party substructure known as Labour Equality believes that ECD should be prioritised and properly resourced, so that it can protect the integrity of the future of South Africa and ensure that South Africa has leaders with excellent literacy skills.
The programme was opened in prayer and devotion encouraging those in attendance to be fearless and set apart for a greater cause.
After the formalities, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by interim President Joseph Mathunjwa, and was followed by a joyous crowd of teachers, the Student Governing
Body, and the children entering the newly renovated Reading Corner.
At the end of the event hosted on Monday, the Labour Party leadership had an opportunity to interact with the children in song and fun activities like hand printing on posters and book-reading.
Donating a Reading Corner was not an electioneering ploy but evidence of a political party with a conscience and driven by compassion.
“No one has done such a thing for us … many have promised but none kept their promises – but the Labour Party did”. Said the school Principal, Veronica Mhlongo.
“If leaders can remember that they all were once children, perhaps they can begin to awaken their conscience to act in the interest of the future of South Africa, which is also in the interest of children” , Mathunjwa concluded.
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