Shocky is all about women empowerment

LIMPOPO – As a single mother of three, Shocky Mantoa Sebata (66) from Ladanna knows the struggles of being a woman.

Shocky was the school head at Molamo Primary School in Paledi until she retired in 2015. While at the school, she noticed countless learners went to school without food and she was motivated to help.

“I would cook pap and soup and the next day I would take it to school to feed some of the learners during break time,” she explained.

Shocky said as a woman and a mother, she did not want to see children suffer. “When I gave the learners food at school, other learners would come and ask for food as well. I realised that there were more children in need than I thought. I asked the school to open the hall so that the learners can get something to eat for lunch and dinner,” she said.

Shocky decided to open up Paledi Drop-in Centre in Ga-Molepo in 2013 so that she could assist more children. Besides helping children, she felt the need to empower fellow single mothers and help them as women through their struggles.

Shocky employed fellow single mothers as well as her daughter-in-law Lizzy at the centre.

“Women experience various challenges and as single mothers, life can be tough. Women’s Day is important to me because I feel independent women can inspire and motivate women who are not yet independent,” she added.

Through her and her employees’ hard work and determination despite various challenges, the drop-in centre has grown in leaps and bounds. 

By 2016, there were more than 100 children at the centre and they needed to get bigger containers bars to accommodate all of them.

Shocky, who stays in Polokwane and travels to the centre everyday, explained that the centre has a garden where they plant fruits and vegetables to feed the children. 

“We currently have 98 trees and plants of fruits and vegetables consisting of oranges, mango, peaches, litchis, lemon, spinach and eggplants,” she said.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recently visited the centre to work in their garden as part of their Women’s Month campaign.

Shocky gave advice to fellow women: “Women who would like to start similar organisations must work with the Department of Social Development. They must make sure they have passion, patience, love and respect for children. Be their shoulder to cry on.”

Also read: Sebata finds joy in feeding the needy