Pat-on-the-back for Alex News

Rare as it may be for newspapers to be applauded for the work they do in communities, Alex News and other media organisations came in for a pat-on-the-back for a job well done at the Annual General Meeting of Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training (Adapt).

The AGM was held at the Alex Clinic, where the chairperson of the board, Thabiso Baloyi, and CEO of Adapt, Irene Khumalo, tabled their reports on the work of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) in one of the poorest urban nodes in the country.

Read: Adapt calls for no gender violence this festive season

In most instances, media is always on the receiving end of a bashing stick and even when times are good, they hardly receive recognition for the role they play in various communities and the nation at large.

When all the nitty-gritties of an AGM had been concluded, board member Phindile Xaba, stepped onto the podium to execute a vote of thanks. From her long list of guests and donors to thank were newspapers and the ‘tremendous’ work done by media organisations in reporting the work of Adapt in Alexandra.

Read: Adapt receives clean audit yet again

“As an NGO, we’re grateful for the coverage that we get from our local media to highlight the good work that we do in this community. I say to them thanks for a job well done and I urge you to continue this journey with us in the years to come,” Xaba said, naming Alex News and other media organisations in the process.

Xaba, a long-standing board member for 17 years, also praised KwaBhekilanga Secondary School for working closely with Adapt to produce dinaledi [stars] of young girls who were pushing the work of the organisation, including teacher, Kgomotso Ida Mokua.

Two of the girls, Ntwanano Mabunda and Zikhona Cola gave testimonials on the work of Adapt with girls of their school, with Mabunda also presenting her poetic work and skills to the audience at the AGM.