Spreading some Madiba magic
THE SPIRIT of Nelson Mandela proved to be alive and well in the Northern Cape yesterday when various government departments joined business and the general public to spend 67 minutes giving back to the less fortunate in memory of Madiba.
The MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Norman Shushu, donated building material for the completion of the St Peter’s Church in Kimberley.
Two households from Delportshoop received furniture and food parcels, while new toilets were installed at their homes.
Blankets and groceries were also donated to elderly members of Reetsanang Co-operative, who are involved in the production of cash crops.
“To us, Mandela Day must go beyond donating items to the poor for public relations and gratifications as has been the case in the recent past,” Shushu said.
“We need to ensure that we make lasting contributions to the livelihoods of our people by implementing a well co-ordinated, 12-month programme which is aimed at making a lifelong contribution towards the identified beneficiaries.”
The Department of Education spent its 67 minutes in Bathlaros in the John Taolo Gaetsewe district, where it donated groceries and toiletries to the Monare family, along with providing a job opportunity for the family’s “change agent”, Mapaseka Sekukunene.
“We have also identified the Omogolo Women In Action Soup Kitchen, a community-based project, which provides a decent meal to more than 100 elderly in the community,” said Education spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe. “Currently they are battling financially and experienced challenges with their supply of water.
“The department provided groceries to the value of R5 000, established a food garden which will benefit the whole community and engaged Sedibeng Water through the Gasegonyane Municipality to erect a water tap on the premises.”
Van der Merwe added that the department would also be distributing 3 000 pairs of school shoes in August to deserving pupils across the Province.
The MEC for Roads and Public Works, Mxolisi Sokatsha, handed out 100 food parcels and served lunch for needy families in Hanover, before painting two houses and handing over two washing basins and two beds to local households.
Among other initiatives, officials from the department also donated sanitary towels to the Thutuzela Care Centre in Galeshewe
“The donations which the department handed over to us are very important to our victims,” said centre spokesperson, Deyi Zandile. “Our dream is that everyone must own the centre and it must belong to all of us. It is not only poor people who get raped, you never know what the future holds and you may arrive at the centre with just a towel around your body.”
The MEC for Health, Lebogang Motlhaping, donated food parcels and blankets to ten needy families at Laxey in the John Taolo Gaetsewe district.
Motlhaping also partnered with local donors to renovate the Hume family home, which was badly burned last year. Maintenance included the replacement of doors, windows, roofing, plastering of walls and painting and will be completed in the course of the week.
“The 73-year-old grandmother, Kethaisitswe Hume, couldn’t hide her excitement and appreciated the assistance and continuous support from the community, especially in honouring the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela,” the spokesperson for Health, Lebogang Majaha, added.