ACTING director of the Pinetown and Highway Child and Family Welfare Society, Sibongile Manyathi, is pleading for anyone to assist them as they are hanging by a thin thread.
“We are desperate – the situation has shifted from bad to worse,” she said.
Although the Department of Social Development (DSD) subsidises them, Manyathi said it is not enough for the everyday running of the welfare.
In 2019, the welfare society had to retrench some of their auxiliary workers after their subsidy was cut by DSD.
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Manyathi mentioned that their daily job requires social workers to do house visits frequently and attend court cases.
“We work with the poorest of the poor in Durban and surrounds.”
The welfare society services the Impola, St Wendolins, Mariannridge, Wyebank, Mariannhill, Molweni, Embo, KwaNqetho, KwaNyuswa, KwaNgcolosi, Shallcross, Tshelimnyama, Burlington, Luganda, Savannah Park, Dassenhoek and Demat communities.
Manyathi said the society’s work includes protecting and caring for the children within and outside families.
“We deal with vulnerable children and orphans and work with various families and offer support to foster parents. We also ensure that children receive their grant money, and we also host awareness programmes.
“The workload is increasing because of the AIDS epidemic and socioeconomic circumstances. More and more people are coming to us for help. There are no jobs, and people are hungry out there, and most of the children are either orphans, abandoned, or from child-headed homes or living with their grannies. We address child neglect and give women hope,” she said.
Manyathi said they truly appreciate the ongoing support from certain individuals, businesses and others.
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“Our food room is almost empty, and our situation worsened after the looting. We have 17 social workers and a few auxiliary workers, and there are only three rooms for them to use, so it delays our work,” she said.
Manyathi added that people depend on them for food parcels, and with their food room empty, they have to turn people away empty-handed.
“It just breaks my heart,” said Manyathi with a sigh.
Anyone who wishes to assist can contact Manyathi on 031 701 0884 or 076 521 3159, or Lunga Chiliza on 072 514 2704.
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