THE Chinese Consul handed over scholarships, food and blankets to Alexander Sinton High School pupils and the Saartjie Baartman Centre yesterday.
The school has a rich political, academic and sporting history and was the first school former president Nelson Mandela visited after his release from prison.
After reading about the school in the Cape Times, Chinese consul-general Kang Yong was inspired to make a lasting contribution.
Kang contacted Hu Jianmin, chairperson of the Cape Grand China and South African Shanghai General Association, to see how they could contribute.
Yesterday, a sum of R70 000 (enough to cover the fees of 10 pupils for two years) plus R4 800 for its feeding scheme and 70 food parcels were handed over to the school.
In a meeting with Kang, principal Adela Domingo was asked which other organisation the consul could help, and she immediately thought of the Saartjie Baartman Centre.
The centre was yesterday handed 50 blankets for its shelter, and 50 stationery packs for its early childhood development programme.
Kang said the school had a glorious history and he felt it his duty to help it succeed.
“The school fought racism for many years, and still South Africa finds itself fighting for equality. The Chinese are a community that love to help, and we have worked well with the South African government to better the lives of its people. This is one of the ways we give back,” Kang said.
Hu said the Chinese respected education and hoped the donations would inspire pupils who benefited for a lifetime.
Domingo, the first female principal of the school, thanked Kang and Hu, and said their contribution meant a lot to many pupils.
“Although many of our pupils are from working class homes, we do need financial aid. We are going through tough economic times, and these donations mean the world,” Domingo said.
Fund-raiser Fatima Abrahams said Saartjie Baartman Centre often struggled to buy what it needed, and she was thankful for the donations.
“People might think a blanket does not cost a lot, but when you don't have money to buy one, it is very expensive,” Abrahams said.
Alexander Sinton was the hub of anti-apartheid student uprisings during apartheid.
In September 1985, staff and pupils at the school made headlines when they barricaded the police into their school during protests.
The next month, three were killed near the school by police officers in the Trojan Horse attack.
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