About 150 children from the Germiston area converged on the popular complex, where they had a wonderful time swimming in the pools and playing in the park. They also enjoyed a visit from Santa and performed for the party organisers and sponsors.
The children were also treated to lunch and soft drinks.
Christmas gifts that were collected as part of the police station’s Santa Shoebox project were distributed during the event.
The Santa Shoebox project saw the Germiston police collecting festive season gifts for children from donors, including local businesses and police officers themselves.
The shoeboxes, packed with the donated items, including soft toys, cosmetics, stationery and other necessities, were presented to the needy children to help them get into the holiday spirit and to bring some hope and joy into their lives.
This year, different police units in the Germiston areas and various local businesses put in their time, money and effort to ensure an unforgettable party for the little ones. The sponsors included Johnson Matthey (Germiston), Melco, Classic Wholesalers, Bethesda Ministries, Crazy Store (Germiston) as well as CPF and SAPS members.
The project is the brainchild of the Germiston SAPS station commander, Brigadier Nkhensani Lemba, who initiated it to serve the underprivileged children in her policing precinct, especially those living in informal settlements.
She said her aim was to make the lives of children who have nothing a little bit better, adding that some of the children are orphans who are so poor that they have practically nothing. Others had never even received a gift before.
Lemba said she was overwhelmed by the support she received from other individuals and businesses after she started the project. She thanked all the sponsors who contributed to the project in any way since its inception in 2016.
During the event, Lemba also wished the little ones a Merry Christmas and reminded them to focus on education and to report any form of abuse meted out to them by people they know or strangers.
The Germiston SAPS invites residents and local businesses to support the initiative. -@MthuphaFanie