By Lebone Rodah Mosima
KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodgers handed over computers to SOS Children’s Village in Pietermaritzburg on Monday, following an earlier commitment to improve the facility’s access to technology.
The donation follows Rodgers’ visit to the village in The Grange in September, when he inspected outdated computer equipment and undertook to arrange technical assistance, repairs and replacements.
Speaking during the handover, Rodgers said access to computers and the internet was important for children who might otherwise lack opportunities to develop digital skills.
He also undertook to arrange an internet connection for the facility within the next two weeks.
“I was here in September to come and have a look and I gave some garden tools and equipment to the SOS village and I was impressed with the management and the maintenance of what’s happening here and the care of the children,” Rodgers said.
“And I think as government we also need to reward where there’s leadership and management in institutions of this nature, whether it’s in health or whether it’s in any government or NPO facility.”
Rodgers said the donation formed part of the provincial government’s efforts to bridge the digital divide and ensure that vulnerable children were not excluded from educational and economic opportunities.
“Technology has become an essential tool for learning, innovation and participation in the modern economy,” he said.
“By providing these computers, we are investing in the future of our children and ensuring that they have access to the resources needed to pursue their educational goals and realise their full potential.”
He also donated seedlings to support the village’s agricultural initiatives and thanked the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for its contribution.
He said the village was working in partnership with the Wild Trust Foundation to strengthen food security and develop income-generating activities.
The latest donations follow the gardening tools and equipment provided during his September visit, when Rodgers praised the village’s management and the care provided to children at the facility.
