The Minister of Telecommunication and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele, recently enlivened patients and staff of Ithlokomeleng Old Age Home through a generous donation.
Leaders and residents of Alexandra gathered at the home to celebrate former President Nelson Mandela with a donation of equipment and the opening of a Madiba’s Memorial Garden at the home.
A printer, laptop, cellphones, decoder and video games were donated to the home by the Department of Telecommunication and Postal Services, Sentec, Telkom and Cita, a state telecommunication agency.
Cwele said the items were to help entrench the memory of the global Statesman and his spirit of giving. He urged the elderly at the home to help keep Mandela’s spirit of humility and humanity alive by casting their special votes wisely at the local government elections on 3 August. This, he said, would be in remembrance of Madiba and the ongoing struggle for equality.
“The difficulties of the past and struggle for democracy is a process which requires your involvement through the vote to enable continuity in government’s work of improving your environment and dignity in your old age,” he said.
Cwele added that the home was a reputable and trustworthy place that deserved to be supported and its committed staff and volunteers were encouraged to continue their work which resembled Mandela’s selfless spirit and solidarity to make the world a better place. He committed to draw in other support to the home in the future.
The home’s board chairperson, Leslie Magoro, commended the donors, saying their support was in keeping with Mandela’s ethos of giving and serving without expecting returns.
Magoro said good and selfless deeds were always rewarded, unlike self-centredness. He urged other organisations in need to explore support from many organisations and individuals who were ready to give rather than always relying on the government.
The leader of the June 16 Foundation, Barney Mokgatle, asked that the donation be complemented with the planting of trees, flowers and shrubs that he said have therapeutic power, especially to the frail elderly who require many forms of support.
Mokgatle also urged the youth to desist from associating the elderly with witchcraft. “They should instead, respect and care for them, learn from their wisdom and receive their blessings.”
