One of the ideals the late Steve Biko fought for was the education of the black child and this ideal was honoured on Tuesday when the National School of Government (NSG) donated more than 2,000 books to the two libraries at the Steve Biko Foundation in Ginsberg.
The books and educational toys were donated by various government departments, book publishers and organisations after minister of public service and administration Ayanda Dlodlo made an appeal for donations.
Speaking at the handover at the foundation, the acting principal of the NSG, Sipho Manana, said the need for books at the libraries had been identified by Dlodlo in October.
“The minister visited the community of Ginsberg last year to hand over the Batho Pele Lifetime Achievers Award to Nontsikelelo Biko, Biko’s widow,” he said.
Manana said during the visit, the minister was introduced to the Nightingales, a non-profit community development programme formed by 150 retired nurses, including “mam” Biko, that provides healthcare and educational support and feeds injured teens and children.
“In the spirit of Thuma Mina the NSG and provincial office of the premier supported the ministry by co-ordinating the donation,” said Manana.
He said the books, which included novels, study guides and SA history books, were donated between November and March.
The minister tasked the NSG to work with the provincial government to support the Nightingale members and provide training for community development workers and unemployed young graduates in Ginsberg.
During the handover the retired nurses were given training certificates .
Speaking at the handover, Biko said if her husband were alive today, he would be very proud, as the education of the black child was one of the ideals he fought for.
“When my husband came back from hiding in Durban there was only one graduate in Ginsberg and it was not because the people of the community were not brilliant, it was because they lacked the resources. That is when he [Biko] started the Ginsberg educational fund that produced a number of graduates.
“Today, I know he is smiling wherever he is,” said Nontsikelelo Biko.
The librarian at the Steve Biko Foundation, Nosipho Shweni, said the donation would boost the library which currently had some 15,000 books on its shelves.
“This community is willing to learn and we are committed to preserve the donated material and make it available and accessible to the community,” said Shweni...