Individuals, groups, clubs, and organisations took the time to make a positive impact in their communities on Nelson Mandela Day, observed on 18 July.
The following is a synopsis of information received of the day’s events in the Northern Cape:
Representatives of the provincial Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison donated bicycles to learners of the Louisvale Primary School.
Also, at the Kanoeneiland police station’s victim friendly facility, furniture were sponsored that caters for the needs of victims of gender-based violence.
Furthermore, an elderly home that was identified in Paballelo, Upington, was refurbished and the aged man was provided with new furniture and groceries.
Lt. Gen. Koliswa Otola, police commissioner of the Northern Cape, and colleagues visited the Tlhabologo Inclusive Day Care Center in Galeshewe. Here they donated a baby cot, nappies, sanitary towels, groceries, stationery, and more.
The police’s Provincial Corporate Communication team delivered soup, bread, fruit and goodies for more than 120 patients from across the province to the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley.
The acting CEO of the hospital, Dr Esmé Olivier, said patients come from all over the province, and some travel long distances.
“One can only imagine how tired they are when they arrive at the hospital for treatment, and you will also find that some of them haven’t had breakfast.”
Representatives of the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) commemorated the day in Ritchie where food parcels and blankets were handed out to four elderly headed homes. The department and stakeholders also assisted in cleaning, doing yard maintenance and painting the beneficiaries’ homes.
The Kimberley Harriers Running Club and the Diamantveld High School presented a 4 km run and walk event, thereby receiving donations of clothing, blankets, food, and R2 346 for the Destiny House Child and Youth Care Centre and Child Welfare.
Northern Cape Meals on Wheels presented a cook-off with Capitec Bank employees and Shoprite, handing out the food, along with soup and jars of dry foods.
The Rotary Interact Club of the Northern Cape High School, under the guidance of Debbie Smith, assisted by cleaning the area around the school.
Thanks to Kimberley’s Flamingo Casino’s internal Tin Spin project, staff members donated non-perishable food and nominated Woman to Woman and Destiny House to receive these goods, alongside three needy households.
A total of 794 items, and another 488 items from the Responsible Gambling Foundation Gauteng, were handed over to the selected charities.
“We feel inspired by the work Women to Women do. They stand up against gender-based violence and say ‘enough is enough’,” said Themba Marasha, Flamingo Casino’s general manager.
“We have also supported Destiny House, who take in children who have been removed from abusive and drug related homes, to provide them with a safe and nurturing shelter – and our contribution will help fill hungry tummies,” Marasha said.
Three households were chosen from staff nominations, ranging from elderly battling to feed and school children, a home where siblings are trying to school their youngest, and a family of five battling to school its two youngest.
Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen Mine activated two campaigns to make a direct impact in the community.
With a procession composed of Sishen’s leadership and the mine’s general manager, André Roux, the day’s activities began in Mapoteng, where 70 vulnerable households identified by the Department of Social Development, received a voucher of R1 000 each to help them weather the cold winter conditions.
Made up of the mostly elderly recipients on the day, the campaign recognised the need to aid vulnerable groups within society.
“Sishen Mine sees its 70th year in operation in 2023. Today we wanted to show the mine’s grace, growth and generosity to our people,” says corporate affairs and social performance manager, George Benjamin.
Also the Kathu Taxi Rank received an intense clean-up and revitalisation exercise, that saw local partners which included the mayor of the Gamagara Municipality, Henriëtte du Plessis, and the municipal manager, Lebogang Seetile, joining in on the effort to make the space comfortable for the community.
