OUDTSHOORN NEWS - Community leader Mandilakhe Matika, together with Thabo Mgobo, handed over a batch of sanitary pads to the deputy principal of Bongolethu Primary School, Luvuyo Dlukulwana. This forms part of a project Matika launched to make sure girls don't miss school due to a lack of proper sanitary pads. He is calling on local businesses to support this project.
Matika explained that girls don't have to miss school due to the lack of sanitary products.
In South Africa, one out of three girls suffers from period poverty, and no access to pads means no access to school, making pads the obstacle and distance between them and their education.
Bronagh Hammond, media spokesperson for the Department of Education, confirmed that the department does not have statistics.
"Female learners do not necessarily report the reason for absence being menstruation. The department is aware that some female learners are absent when they are menstruating. This affects mainly our poorer learners who cannot always afford the products required to manage their menstruation in a dignified and hygienic way."
According to Hammond, the department is sensitive to the plight of many young women who cannot afford sanitary products and are concerned about how this affects their school attendance every month and their opportunities for a good education.
"As a country, we all need to support these learners. We are engaging with the Provincial Department of Social Development on their Sanitary Dignity Project. They provide sanitary pads to numerous schools across the province.
"We are, however, always open to corporate or other forms of investment as well. If any organisations would like to fund such an initiative, they must engage with the WCED or DSD. We thank the organisations who do provide these resources to our learners."
Sanitary Dignity Project
Monique Mortlock-Malgas, media liaison officer, Department of Social Services, confirmed that the department has in partnership with the Department of Education delivered more than 3.432 million packs of sanitary pads to learners across the province since the inception of the Sanitary Dignity Project in 2020.
"During the last financial year (2024/25), 754 905 packs of sanitary pads were distributed to over 300 schools and DSD Child and Youth Care Centres across the province, to promote the well-being, health, dignity and self-esteem of female learners. We call on the private sector and residents who can, to support efforts by the department, as well as NGOs and NPOs, to assist girls from impoverished backgrounds in ways that provide dignity and care."
‘Ons bring jou die nuutste Tuinroete, Hessequa, Karoo nuus’
