Be our eyes and ears-Creche to residents
ALEXANDRA – Historic creche bemoans burglaries, seeks donations for 60th birthday celebration.
Alex’s legendary creche linked to the struggle era asked residents to protect the townships’ vital public and private institutions.
This after Thabisong Alexandra Day Care Centre in 8th Avenue was robbed of a 19kg gas cylinder on 19 July, a day after the iconic late statesman and child rights proponent Nelson Mandela’s birthday celebration.
On the day, several companies and some of its neighbours helped to spruce up the place in his honour. The incident follows another in 2016 when the admin office and a classroom were burgled and nine sets of computers with keyboards, screens, a server, photocopy machine, landline phone and groceries in boxes donated by the Department of Education and others were stolen.
The chairperson of the facility Nkepile Masite said, “The incidents are an unfortunate refection of the public’s laxity in caring, supporting and lack of interest and commitment to the security of institutions providing their children vital foundation level education.”
This said in reference to the centre which also nurtured her, was sanctuary to many struggle stalwarts who have become local and national leaders, unearthed leading artists and was also a base for cultural activities including, poetry, drama and gumboot dancing.
“The burglaries are disappointing and done by some we know among us who don’t honour, appreciate and celebrate institutions benefiting their children and grandchildren.”
She said thousands in the township graduated from the facility to become leaders, respectable persons and parents. “The historical facility with a heritage emblem currently cares for 132 children from one to six years of age who are taught by 11 qualified staff members.”
She and distraught principal Ntsoaki Tshoagong are hoping the incident will not discourage their traditional donors such as AfriSam, FNB and others who had also sponsored Mandela Day activities.
This as they also solicited for sponsorship of entertainment activities and a feeding scheme ahead of the 60th birthday celebrations of the facility on 12 October. Tshoagong added that more support was needed for security cameras and partnerships with security agencies.
This is in addition to the residents playing their role to curb the shameful and disappointing thefts and burglaries likely to also be occurring at other public facilities. “They are yours and for your children and require your appreciation through acts and values of Ubuntu.” She said they often talked to the community to encourage a sense of ownership and belonging to the facility.
Also, they recently received R20 000 from Angelo Agrizzi, former COO of Bosasa which is being probed for state capture by the Zondo Commission, as an atonement fine for his racist rants.
“The money was used to upgrade toilets, purchase outdoor toys, educational books and stationery.” Masite said Agrizzi’s show of remorse through the donation was
also driven by the memory of his mother he said also operated a creche in Italy, his home country. The facility charges R300 monthly fees per child with 10 deemed most needy enrolled for free.
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