Elderly man from Wesselton lends out tools to make a difference

WESSELTON – A group of community members of Ward 3 took it upon themselves to deliver some of the services they feel the municipality neglects to provide.

While working, Mpela Mabizela, an elderly man, lent the group his tools as his contribution to making a difference.

“I’m a retired old man and can’t always help with the hard labour this group takes on. I felt by lending them my tools, I’m also contributing to the services they are rendering in our community,” he told the newspaper.

The 65-year-old Mabizela has been a resident in Ward 3 for the past 58 years.

He went to Umsbebe School until Grade Eight, and completed his matric at Lindile Secondary School. Afterwards, he started working at Metro Cash & Carry in the receiving bay for about 20 years.

He moved on to TPA, a construction company, where he received training as a plumber.

Mabizela worked at the CMGM Construction Company and was part of the team that built the sewage plant and pipeline in front of his house.

Mabizela said he had taught himself and others to swim in the nearby stream in his younger days, but that the stream is now filled with sewage.

“It’s sad to see that the children of today can’t experience the same joy we got spending hours in the stream.”

He said it was heartwarming to see the group of people tackling various issues in the community and told the newspaper that he feels the municipality and government are failing to provide proper service delivery.

As a retired man, he keeps himself busy with his vegetable garden and sells vegetables to the residents.

“I love this community, and it is good to see other people are trying to make a difference here,” Mabizela concluded.