Christmas is a time for giving, and Julie Suddaby, the proportional representation councillor in Midrand’s Ward 92, was asked by the Peace Maker’s Senior Citizens’ Group in the informal settlement of Meriting, Kaalfontein, for a Christmas party for the 25 regular day residents of the centre and their five volunteers.
Suddaby said: “Peace Makers has only recently been registered as an NGO [non-governmental organisation] but still receives no government funding. The volunteers feed the residents one meal five days a week, paid for out of their own pockets. In addition, there is no running water, no electricity and no toilet facilities at the centre – it is merely a container that serves as a shelter and meeting place.
“The answer to whether we could host a party was a resounding, ‘Yes, of course, we would love to’. As the centre was closing for year-end and we couldn’t send the people home for Christmas without a Christmas gift, I called on Madeleine Hicklin, councillor for Ward 112 and the DA Midrand Constituency chairperson, to see whether we could pull a miracle out of the air.”
Hicklin said: “2017 has been a really tough year and coming so late in the year, finding sponsorships for a party was not possible. I thought of the next best thing: ask for food hampers through a community radio station. As a Jewess, I approached the local Jewish Radio Station, ChaiFM, run by the amazing Kathy Kaler and asked for help.
She agreed to have me come into the studio to appeal to the listeners for donations of basic food hampers made up of samp, mielie meal, pilchards, tomato and onion relish, Oros, biscuits and sweets. The response was beyond our wildest dreams. In the space of 20 minutes, we had 12 parcels pledged – and a whole lot more. Two days later I collected a car full of goodies from the studio. The community was incredible. In addition to the food, each resident got wet wipes and moisturiser courtesy of Bennets Pharmacy.”
Suddaby called on the MMC for Corporate and Shared Services in the City of Joburg, Dr Ntombi Khumalo, to assess the centre.
After assessing the facilities and looking at the surrounding areas, MMC Khumalo addressed the elders and promised to look into what could be done to improve their lives in 2018. She also pledged to engage other departments in the City of Joburg to assist.
The residents were overjoyed. There was a party with cake, biscuits, sweets, colddrinks and presents.
Suddaby said: “We were so well received, with singing, dancing and ululating. Children materialised from nowhere to be part of the celebration, and everyone joined in getting into the party spirit. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. We were just overcome with emotion. It was a truly wonder-filled morning.”
Hicklin said: “It was humbling to have been thanked so meaningfully for such a simple act. These elders had nursed us when we were children. It was a fitting tribute for us now to take care of them, in their advanced age.”
MMC Khumalo said: “What an honour it was to have spent the morning with the elderly at Peace Makers in Kaalfontein, Midrand. Thanks to councillors Hicklin and Suddaby for their dedication towards bettering the lives of abo magogo. It was great being a part of it and being in a position to give back.”
