SAPS and SACWO combine forces for their #67minutes for Mandela
The Polokwane police and South African Community Welfare Organisation (SACWO) celebrated Mandela Day with the children of The Samaritan Centre and Ngwana House.
POLOKWANE – It was a jolly affair as the police took time off their busy work schedules to spend time with the children at the orphanages. The Samaritan Centre houses 46 children of various ages. They donated 21 mattresses and toiletries to the children at the centre and donated nappies and face cloths to the babies at Ngwana House.
Sarah Galane, Founder and Director of the Samaritan Centre, thanked the Polokwane police for their consistence in supporting the centre on Mandela Day over the years. “The spirit of Ubuntu has been shown from Mandela to you.” She encouraged them to visit the children often so the children can have good role models. “Feel free to volunteer and become familiar with the children, you are more than welcome. We have experienced some challenges over the years, such as capacity. We also rent a house in Boshoff Street to accommodate other children. Land has been donated by the municipality next to Rethabile Community Health Centre. Keep us in your prayers so we can get a donor for the construction of the house”.
Also present was South African Community Welfare Organisation (SACWO), who donated snacks to the children at the Samaritan Centre.
“We are here to spend time with the children and to show them love. We encourage them to grow and never give up,” said the Deputy Chairperson of the organisation, Theto Maifala.
Brigadier Mosima Maila shared a word of thanks with everyone present.
“Thank you for coming and lending a hand. It’s important to help with the children and ensure they are well looked after. The police, thank you for the arrangement of the day. Children are our future, Mandela had a passion for children. It’s the children that can be brought up to be leaders. Let’s show them that we love them. This is not the end, we’re still going to do more.” He also encouraged members of the police to visit the centre in their uniforms so that the children can familiarise themselves with the police.
“Come in your uniform to show them that the police are human.”
After spending time at the Samaritan Centre, the proceedings moved to Ngwana House where they were met by the Project Manager Amanda Koekemoer. Koekemoer explains that Ngwana House has been in existence for 11 years, taking babies who have been abandoned, orphaned and babies whose mothers intended to abort them but decided to rather put them up for adoption. It currently houses 25 children, ages from birth to two years.
“We employ 17 workers, two social workers and a house mother. The reach of the organisation goes beyond the borders of the country with some children being adopted abroad.
“The donations we receive helps a lot, especially when people call before hand and ask what we need.” She added that Mandela Day helps because it puts Ngwana House out there and people who didn’t know about it are made aware.
