A traditional Leader from Ntibane locality in Ngqeleni, Chief Nicholas Mbube, confirmed that the large number of different challenges in his area has led them to ask for intervention from members of Songe Social Change Non-Profit Organisation.
This organisation, working together with different government departments, hosted a Human Rights and Awareness Campaign in this area last week.
Mbube said there are many challenges facing his community, such as some people not having identity documents, and the high crime rate. According to him, these challenges make people lose hope because they feel that they are not safe.
“Each department told us how they are going to assist us, and we are hoping that after this initiative there will be a change,” he said.
Mbube said there was a break-in at Lower Mpimbo Primary School recently, and computers and other items were taken.
Advocacy for Human Rights and Adherence Officer, Ayanda Mtshelwane, from Songe Social Change, said her duty is to ensure that people get all the rights they need in life.
She said a human being needs a place to stay, to have an identity document, and other needs.
“We did research about this area, which showed that there are a lot of challenges this community is facing. Among those challenges is the issue of the clinic that does not have privacy. It is hard for the community of this area to visit it when they need help, because they know that there is no privacy, and this makes it hard for them to go and seek for help.
“We found so many problems that needed our intervention,” said Mtshelwane.
She added that they decided to attend with all the government departments to do an integration, so that they can have way forward in solving these issues.
“Among the issues is the high rate of pregnancy of young girls, crime, and people who do not have identity documents, and some of the children do not have birth certificates meaning that they do not get a social grant from government,” she said.
A community member, Nosipho Mxabanisi (30), said that they hope that this initiative would bring a change to the community.
