By Pitso Moloi
This month started on an exciting note at Thalabodiba Secondary School in Hasethunya village in the mountainous Free State area of Qwaqwa.
It was an affair of the former and current, the old and young, the then and now, the forerunners and descendants during the school’s reunion at the beginning of this month.
The school’s former learners reunited after 30 years to reminiscence about their time at the school and to motivate the current crop of learners. It was also a time to plough back as they also donated school shoes to the disadvantaged learners.
Present among these former learners was the school’s then Principal, Nthuping Jacob Nkatlo, who served the school from September 1984 as the 2nd principal of the school since the establishment up until 2002.
It was a day filled with joy serenated with music of then and now. The former showcased what they used to do during their time while the current displayed their contemporary stuff.
The keynote speaker was a former Thalabodiba learner and engineer by profession, Lomile Modiselle, who is currently the director of energy and electricity at Tshwane Metro.
In her motivational speech to the learners, Modiselle, strongly urged them to be disciplined and to work hard. She gave tipped them on her own study methods that helped to get where she is now.
She further adviced them to choose their careers wisely and follow those that will be compatible with the 4th Industrial Revolution.
“I also encourage to make use of technology (social media) for educational purposes and also look out for mentors that will helped you with your school work,” she said.
One of the organisers, Mrs Mokoena, said the reunion has been long coming and that they were excited that the dream came true.
“The reunion was to give out school shoes to those who cannot afford them as part of giving back to the school that shaped us. We are what we are today because of Thalabodiba,” said Mokoena, who also had to walk long distance to the school barefooted and in shabby school uniform during those years.
“It is important to give back to those who cannot afford”, she added.
Mokoena said they are determined that show will go on and the reunion will be part of the school programme. She said they are also planning to go back to Thalabodiba to donate sanitary towels.
