The secretary of the Brotherhood Social Club, Yanga Jomo Makhongwana, said they had celebrated Nelson Mandela Month by hosting a soup kitchen on Owen Street in Mthatha, with the aim of showing love to car guards and car washers.
He said they had decided to do this to show appreciation because, even though they are struggling, they do not engage in unlawful activities. Instead, they use their strength to work for money.
“They live their lives depending on the money they earn from their work, nothing else. We were giving them hope and making them feel recognised and appreciated,” said Makhongwana.
He mentioned that the forum conducts various programmes, such as Back-to-School campaigns. According to him, they also donate to schools where there is a perceived need.
Additionally, they visit initiation schools to motivate and talk to initiates, because some of them do not have fathers at home.
He confirmed that their branch was launched in 2022 in Mthatha and that they also have a national level presence.
“It is a self-funded organisation with no-one assisting them, which has limited their activities to Mthatha only. If we can secure funding, we could expand to other areas because people do need our services.”
