Blessing from social development for children’s homes
MBOMBELA - The Mpumalanga MEC for social development, Blessing Shongwe, visited the Moses Sihlangu and Uthando Children’s homes in KaBokweni and Phola recently.
The visit formed part of the department’s commemoration of Nelson Mandela Day and benefited 41 vulnerable children who are housed at the two homes.
Shongwe’s visit not only entailed the delivery of blankets, dignity packs and mattresses, but it also aimed to shine the spotlight on gender-based violence (GBV), which has been prevalent in the province since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown.
According to the Department of Social Development spokesperson, Comfort Ngobe, the visit hoped to encourage Mpumalanga residents - men in particular - to start playing a meaningful role in addressing the scourge of GBV against the vulnerable. Additionally, the MEC was keen to ensure that all Covid-19 protocols were observed during the handover.
“As we join the rest of the world in celebrating Madiba’s birthay, I will inspire people of Mpumalanga to adhere to the Covid-19 protocols during the nationwide lockdown,” said Shongwe.
During the handover, the MEC inspected the two sites and resolved to return to iron out issues such as a refrigerator at Uthando Children’s Home and the construction of a borehole for the children to have access to water.
According to Ngobe, both homes are funded by the Department of Social Development which places abused, vulnerable, abandoned and orphaned children in their care.
He concluded, “Remember, July is when we celebrate Nelson Mandela Month. To continue his legacy during this period, the MEC has handed over food parcels to 293 institutions funded by the department.”