By Cecilia Mohlala
Hazyview - Vulnerable children from a crèche in Mpumalanga were the first to receive gifts from the provincial government as part of Mandela Month activities.
The Lula Day Care Centre in Swalala, near Hazyview, received gas stoves, paints and brushes, 38 blankets, a fridge, microwave oven, steel cupboards and toys.
The gifts came from MECs and officials from various government departments, including the departments of education, health and social development, culture, sport and recreation, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and the National Youth Development Agency.
“We are launching Mandela Month at Lula Day Care Centre as part of the government’s service delivery activities. We chose this centre because it has vulnerable children and orphans,” said Education MEC Reginah Mhaule, who leads the provincial government cluster.
Mhaule called on community members to do their bit to help others on former president Nelson Mandela's birthday on July 18.
“On July 18, everyone should extend a helping hand to help others as part of the 67 minutes of Mandela Day. However in the cluster, every day will be a Mandela Day,” she said.
She said some of the activities for this month include building, renovating and handing over houses in the Lekwa local municipality, Umjindi local municipality, Albert Luthuli local municipality and Ehlanzeni district municipality.
“We will also be educating children about the importance of saving money in partnership with the Banking Association of South Africa. Our children need to learn how to save, not just spend,” she said.
Lula Day Care Centre's governing body chairman, David Mokoena, said the centre was opened in 2004 to attend to orphans and vulnerable children living in the Swalala community.
Some of the children were from households where an adult was not available to look after them, while their siblings were at school.
“We are very grateful for the visit and all the gifts from all the departments. We wish the service would go forward and not only to Lula Day Care Centre. We truly believe that all our challenges will be fixed today,” said Mokoena.
Each year, the department of social development contributes an amount of R182 000 to the centre to ensure that it stays open. – SAnews.gov.za
