Mfesane, a community service, celebrated 21 years on the West Coast this year, and 50 years nationwide, at the Hoedjiesbaai Hotel on Friday 31 October.
It offers health-care and support services to families, youth and children in the Saldanha Bay and Bergrivier areas.
According to Yolandi Afrika, one of three executives, two white ministers – Rev Giep Louw and Rev Almero Cloete – of the Dutch Reformed Church started the organisation in Umtata in the Eastern Cape in 1975.
They wanted to help alleviate the dire circumstances in which residents of the former “homelands”, Transkei and Ciskei, found themselves during the apartheid years. The organisation’s name, which is Xhosa for “compassion”, is inspired by Matthew’s gospel (14:14), which relays the compassion Christ is filled with when he sees the needy crowds.
In 1985, Mfesane became a fully independent ecumenical Christian development organisation.
It works closely with local communities, churches, government organisations, other non-profit organisations and businesses to build capacity in local communities.
Among the values Mfesane actively promotes are transparency, trustworthiness, excellence, inclusivity, compassion, stewardship and people-centredness.
As a community-driven organisation it focuses especially on fostering sibanye or unity, working together towards one common goal.
Afrika thanks all stakeholders for helping Mfesane to make things happen. On the West Coast Mfesane has more than 120 staff members who work to help those in need and empower communities. Afrika wants to start more programmes in the near future to invest in the wellness of its staff.
The staff is our most valuable asset.
What’s next?
Mfesane’s plans involve building a complex in Louwville, Vredenburg, where they will accommodate community-based health-care programmes, family preservation and youth development programmes in addition to offices.
