HANS Kekana Secondary School pupils were happy to receive lights in Temba, Hammanskraal Tshwane, on 31 May.
The happy pupils said they have been struggling to study during load shedding, and the lights will be handy.
The Public Servants Association (PSA) donated at least 316 solar rechargeable LED lights to Grade 11 and 12 pupils.
According to PSA Provincial Manager Olivia Mashigo, they identified the school as one of the schools to partner with to give LED and solar lights.
She said that in the initiative, they partner with schools, Grade 11 and 12, to try and encourage learners during this load shedding time not to let go of pursuing academic excellence.
"We want to ensure that learners pursue academic excellence, but how do they do so when the socio-economic climate is the way it is. Instead of sitting and complaining about the problem that we have load shedding, we thought we need to be part of the solution and give hope to those who might be losing hope," she said.
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Mashigo said it's their first initiative in Gauteng, although PSA has rolled it throughout the provinces.
"We will roll out more lights at a later stage. I am passionate about education. Education is the key," she said.
Institutional Development Support Officer from the Tshwane North District Department of Education Ashraf Dawood said they are excited about the donation as children find it hard to study without lights.
"Load shedding is getting very worse. The children study under candlelight, and although they pass and with lights, it will be better," he said.
Grade 12 learner Lethabo Moses (17) said: "We promise that our achievement will be outstanding, and we'll do our best."
Oboikanyego Magongoa (17) said: "We are thankful for the lights. We will do much better with these gifts. We will do justice with these lights, and we'll excel."
