Life-giving home reopens in Langa
THE Dorothy Zihlangu Transitional Home in Langa is back to providing a safe haven and second chance at life for vulnerable women and children.
NPO Ilitha Labantu reopened the centre yesterday which was established in 1998 and was closed for about six months for renovations.
It is a six-bedroom house with 12 beds, has three bathrooms, a kitchen, dining room and a big lounge area.
Ilitha Labantu spokesperson Siyabulela Mandisa Monakali said the national lockdown has shown just how many women and children are being abused by their partners and parents.
“We provide training that is best suited to them. Everyone receives a specialised assessment and we link them to the work we are doing in our offices.
“There is a programme called Building Bridges, where we assist the women with skills development training. They can get capacitated with regard to if they want to be counsellors, entrepreneurs, bakers, farmers and many more activities.
“The beauty of that is that as an organisation we work with multiple partners and that is our greatest strength … that we can work with whoever we approach, whether it is a private sector or funders themselves.
“Every woman who comes here is basically in transition and it takes about three months,” Monakali said.
Businesswoman Carol Bouwer has made a commitment to assist the home with books. “What I like about Ilitha Labantu is that it is not just a beneficiary to the community of Langa and Cape town.
“It is now a nationwide organisation that stands with women whenever there is a need and what I found most impressive about Mandisa, and together with everyone working with her, is that they put their boots on and it's not just about legislating certain things and sending documents which they don't know what to do with.
“They show up, whether it's at court, and support women. They have been doing that for over 30 years so for consistency and commitment they must be applauded. They are also making sure that advocacy work is being done so there is no need for places such as this,” said Bouwer.