Sixty-five-year-old Salamina Mashigo, whose troubled childhood shaped her selfless humanitarian career in Alexandra, has roped in talented young blood to help preserve her 21-year-old legacy at the helm of her child-feeding scheme known as Ponelopele Drop-In Centre.
“I have decided to bring in young blood in order to give this organisation wings. I would love my legacy to remain intact when I depart from this world and there is no better way to ensure that than roping in these foresighted leaders.
“They are the wings of this organisation that will make it fly. Without a talented board of directors, it is like having a bird without wings – it cannot fly,” Mme Salamina, as she is referred to, said in an interview with Alex News.
The board of directors, which was formed just before the Covid-19 hard lockdown in March, comprises of firebrand Patrick Baloyi as chairperson of the board and Pontsho Ntsane as his deputy, Sipho Khohlakala as treasurer-general, and Kenny Twala as secretary-general with floating member Mapitsi Machaka with Dineo Foloko representing the community on the board.
Outlining their vision for Ponelopele, whose name also speaks to vision, Baloyi, a former secretary-general of the youth movement of the Alexandra Land and Property Owners Association (Alpoa) and long-standing community worker from the TB Settlement area, said their plan for the future of the organisation is based on the vision enunciated by Mme Salamina.
Baloyi said the vision includes the self-sustenance of the organisation and to build Ponelopele its own home. A site has already been identified in the Tsutsumani Village area with the help of Ward 105 councillor Tefo Raphadu.
“I am so relieved and can sleep in peace, knowing that the children will be taken care of when I am gone. I would love to live long enough to see the building completed and the children housed and my legacy alive and kicking,” concluded Mme Salamina.
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