NEW BEGINNINGS
JESSICA Mayola, 10, Babalwa Shabalala, 6, Tumelo Khumalo, 9, and Musawenkosi Ngcobo, 13, pose with businessman Vivian Reddy, a trustee of the Sibaya Community Trust, during a ceremony to launch the site for the new Abethu Community Care Home facility. The Sibaya Trust is funding the multimillion project.
A DREAM for a better care home for children in the province came a step nearer to being fulfilled when businessman Vivian Reddy led a sod-turning ceremony yesterday at the site where a new welfare facility will be constructed in KwaMashu.
Sibaya Community Trust trustees Reddy and former Judge President Vuka Tshabalala, along with councillor Nkosenhle Madlala from the office of the mayor and councillor Lindiwe Ncayiyana of KwaMashu, gathered in Ward 46 for the launch of a new R6 million developmental project for the KwaMashu Family and Child Welfare Society.
Speaking on behalf of the trust, Reddy said the child welfare society had done “amazing work” and they had felt obliged to assist.
“This organisation has been in existence for 81 years with their primary objective being safeguarding and promoting the interests, well-being and rights of children. Their main beneficiaries are those from 0 to 12 years, most of whom come from the poorest areas.”
He said because of development in this community, the welfare society was outgrowing its premises and made an approach to the trust.
“We were very pleased to assist,” he said.
He said there would be local contractors working on the project, which in turn would provide jobs in the community.
Tshabalala said it was pertinent that the ceremony fell within the “16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children”.
“We cannot ignore children, who in many ways are defenceless.
“This project is therefore activism on behalf of children.”
Doris Dube of the KwaMashu Child Welfare Society, said: “It’s been close to a decade that we have been trying to raise funds for a new facility and we are truly grateful to Sibaya for finally turning our dream into a reality.”
Wiseman Mkhize, one of the contractors who will be working on the project, said he was saddened when he saw all the stadiums constructed for the 2010 World Cup, because “our people did not even get ‘crumbs’ from those projects”.
“Nothing compelled Sibaya to help us, but they did. We would like to thank Reddy for not only empowering local contractors, but also for social cohesion,” said Mkhize.