GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - In March of this year, the students who have been accepted to study towards their Bachelor of Arts Police Science (BAPS) degree arrived in Graaff-Reinet to continue with their studies towards their degrees at the SAPS Academy.

This course is funded by the SAPS and attracts students from all over the country.

These students have since embarked on a project aimed at assisting learners of two identified Graaff-Reinet primary schools.

An organizing committee was established in order to run the project, namely Capt Mkontshwana, Const Moodley, Const Pakade and Const Sithole.

Local schools were visited to try to determine which school or schools fitted the project plan. The BAPS students eventually settled on assisting Kroonvale and Lingcom Primary Schools.

A visit by the organising committee to these schools on September 7 revealed that many of the learners were at school without school shoes. Several of these learners were barefooted, while some had on sandals or sneakers.

The goal was set to supply school shoes to the affected learners from these schools. Funds are currently being raised by the BAPS students as well as Academy personnel and those attending courses at the Academy.

The organizing committee would like to invite businesses or private individuals in Graaff-Reinet to come on board and assist them in making this project a success. The proposed date for the handing over of these items is Wednesday, October 11.

They would be very grateful for any donations of school shoes for boys and girls with identified sizes being children’s sizes 11, 12 and 13, and adult sizes 1 and 2.

Any shoes or cash donation should be directed to Lt Colonel Paula van Rooyen, Support Manager of the SAPS Academy Graaff-Reinet, who can be contacted at 049 807 5252.

Alternatively, the members of the committee may be contacted directly: Capt Mkhontshwana (078 640 2680 or 073 456 7432), Cst Pakade (073 456 7432), Cst Moodley (072 988 0734) and Cst Sithole (083 362 6413).

“Your assistance will go a long way in helping our children in Graaff-Reinet in attending school in a manner that we can all be proud of,” said Natasha Schreuder of the SAPS Academy.

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