The Free State premier, Sesi Ntombela, the MEC for social development, Butana Kom-phela; Ngwathe mayor Joey Mochela and the Free State head of the Department of Social Development, Mokone Nthongoa, attended the sod-turning ceremony.
The centre is very close to the heart of CCBSA’s managing director, Velaphi Rat-shefola.
In 2010, he initiated the ‘donate a brick’ project within CCBSA, where employees donated funds to help with the construction.
This has led to the birth of the annual CCBSA MD’s charity golf day where internal and external stakeholders were also invited to help raise funds.
To date, the employees have raised a total of R1,2 million through internal fundraising initiatives.
In addition, the CCBSA employees have contributed toiletries and donations through their community initiatives.
In May 2018, the Ngwathe Municipality donated land in Mokwallo to Thusong to commence with the construction of the facility. The Department of Social Development will, in turn, offer guidance through their social services professionals on the children’s wellbeing at the centre.
At the ceremony, Ratshefola thanked Ms Maria Mopeli (the founder of the centre) for her perseverance in looking after the children. He said the aim is for the children to move into the new building by December this year.
The premier, who also officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony, highlighted the plight of children and the need to safeguard them as vulnerable members in our society. She thanked CCBSA for their contribution and noted that the building of the centre will go a long way in giving the children an opportunity to become future leaders living in a safe environment.
Mopeli established the Thusong Orphanage on 25 May 2005. The centre was first run as a day-care centre where children were able to get assistance with their homework. It has evolved over the years and 150 children be-tween the ages of 6 and 19 years, now participate here in extramural activities like singing and indigenous games.
Seven women currently run the centre and prepare daily meals, teach the children hygiene and help them with their school work.
CCBSA has identified a local contractor, to begin with the construction after following the necessary procurement procedures. The emphasis will be on sourcing of all the mate-rials required from the Vredefort area.
