Advice bureau centre opens in KwaNyuswa
The advice bureau centre was built by the Comburs Foundation.
AN advice bureau centre to assist people who are experiencing difficulties when accessing their grants, pensions and insurances as well as obtaining birth certificates and IDs was officially opened in KwaNyuswa on Tuesday, 11 October.
The advice centre is part of the Hillcrest Advice Bureau and Bursary Fund which was set up in the 1970s to help the underprivileged community of the Valley of 1000 Hills.
Paralegal at the centre, Winnie Mtakwende said she is glad that people can now get advice from a private place as they use to work at the African Gospel Church.
The new building was built by the Comburs Foundation and will also be used for the outreach health clinic and the soup kitchen at different times during the week.
“This centre will really help the community as it is now closer to them and they won’t require money for transport as I use to work at the advice bureau head offices in Hillcrest.”
Mtakwende said the centre really helps as there are lots of people out there who does have knowledge or face lots of problems when applying for their IDs and grants.
“One of the challenges we face are cases of grandparents who raise their grandchildren. In most cases, the mothers return to claim the grant money and use it for themselves and that is where the advice bureau gets involved and tries to resolve the situation.
She added that she loves helping her community and was very happy that they now have proper offices.
Chairman of the Hillcrest Advice Bureau and Bursary Fund, Tanya Harvey said, Mtakwende assisted more than 130 families last year, speaking with clients in a church hall which was shared with a creche of 20 children.
“We are very thankful to Comburs Foundation who in addition to the advice bureau work, they also contributed materials and supervision for the community to renovate the church building which has been re-plastered and re-painted inside and out, with a land drain installed to prevent a recurrence of damp problems and a JoJo tank for water security.
“They also donated a jungle gym and other indoor play equipment for the children,” said Harvey.
The Advice Bureau Building is situated next to the African Gospel Church, Shayamoya Road, Qadi, KwaNyuswa
