Trust donates kombi to children’s home

The Tholakele Centre of Hope received a 14-seater kombi donated by the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) on Tuesday.

“Transportation was one of our biggest expenses. We used to hire taxis to take the children from one place to another daily, and it quickly added up,” explained Phindile Mthembu, the centre’s manager.

Tholakele houses 30 orphaned and vulnerable children. The new Toyota Quantum primarily transports the children daily to and from school. It also takes them to clinics and medical appointments.

“We are also fortunate to have a driver, Banele Morare, who is one of the beneficiaries of Tholakele. He came to the centre when he was five years old. Now, he has committed his time to the centre and will drive the children around,” added Mthembu.

Another beneficiary who returned to pay it forward is Ntando Simelane. She came to the centre when she was five years old.

“I was one of the kids who grew up here. We lived in a smaller house than this. But it was fun; we just did not have a lot of space to play. Now we have a bigger home. I love what I do. I believe my work is from God because people my age chose other careers, but I just want to be here,” she explained.

Ntando works at Tholakele as a child and youth care worker. She is also a Sunday school teacher at a local church.

Established in 2004, Tholakele Centre of Hope provides care, shelter and protection to orphaned and vulnerable children in the Ekurhuleni area, affording them material and mental care, human rights and moral support to be able to confidently face life’s challenges and become responsible members of society.

Commenting on SAMCT’s donation, the organisational representative, Farouk Bayat, said: “There can be no doubt that without proper adult care and attention, children become susceptible to abuse and exploitation.

“The Tholakele Centre of Hope puts children first in this severely disadvantaged community and is bridging the crucial support gap, protecting and guiding them.

“Transport is a key component of any organisation engaged in child care. The lack of transport has a severely debilitating effect on the day-to-day business of such organisations, and negatively impacts those they serve. In this instance, vulnerable children require access to schools, medical appointments, extra-mural activities and outings.

“The Tholakele Centre of Hope does sterling work in the Ekurhuleni community, and the courts and field social workers regularly place identified children in need of care and protection there.

“However, financial constraints have prevented the centre from adding transport to its mix of critical child-based services, until now.”

The SAMCT was created in 2008 as the result of a partnership between Old Mutual Unit Trusts and Al
Baraka Bank, for the creation, marketing and distribution of a suite of Shariah funds.

The organisation provides funding, services and other resources to improve the lives of the vulnerable, deprived and disadvantaged. The centre’s social worker, Nosisa Sotsaka, said her primary responsibility is daily checks on the children’s wellbeing.

“I see my job as very important because there are many children from impoverished backgrounds and vulnerable children. And there are many more out there we can not take in because we can not afford it.

“We have therapy for the older kids and play therapy for the younger ones. Some were abused in their communities. We create a normal home here and teach them how to be productive and functioning citizens,” she explained.

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Ward 82 Clr Desmond Buitendacht said he was proud of the centre.

“I am always excited when invited to come here. How does this organisation get it right? I am starting to answer myself and say it might be your passion and values for this place. Keep up the good work. Of all the bad that is happening, we can look to you for good practice,” he said.

Buitendacht said the community can not ignore the negative impact of circumstances on children’s lives.
He also thanked the SAMCT for their contribution.

The SAMCT committed to erecting a borehole at the centre to help them decrease their water bill significantly.