URCSA Polokwane City improves conditions at Lethabong Service Centre for Older Persons

The Lethabong Service Centre for Older Persons in Chebeng village was the beneficiary of this year’s 67 minutes for Mandela outreach by the Polokwa­ne City congregation of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) on Sunday. Congregants and the Minister of the Word, through URCSA’s Service and Witness Commission, delivered food parcels, building materials, sand, bricks to the centre that was established in 2010 and caters for elderly persons residing in Chebeng and the surrounding area.
Julia Manamela, founder of the centre, said they have agriculture, sport and arts programmes at the centre which sees the members planting vegetables, sewing traditional outfits, hand turning pottery and designing works of art which they sell to the community. “We also teach them how to write and read. Our health and wellness classes include teaching them about a healthy life style, physical exercise programme, nutrition and diet and how they should maintain the lifestyle. We are doing this because we realised that most of them were vulnerable at their homes so we just want to keep them operational and active,” Manamela said.
With the building materials donated by URCSA Polokwane City they will be able to build a dining hall, sick bay, administration block and ablution facilities. “At the moment we don’t have a hall or a sick bay. We are using a shack as sick bay and it is not conducive. We also received R1 240 in addition to the building material and we are going to build a big hall which will enable us do our craft work, conduct classes and other programmes without hindrances. We are happy to be their beneficiary and may the good God bless them in abundance so that we will be able to help other institutions as well,” Manamela, remarked.
Simon Mokoatedi, Deputy Chairperson of URCSA Polokwane City Church Council said the gesture was in response to the calling to build better communities in honour of the values and principles that Tata Nelson Mandela fought and stood for. “Polokwane city congregation from the time of its establishment resolved to participate in Mandela Day and build better communities. So far, the church has participated in four projects. We improved conditions at Pre-School and Centre for disabled in Zone 8 Seshego, Samaritan Orphanage and Children’s Home in Polo­kwane, Children’s Home at Ga-Matlala and a Pre-school at Ga-Mothiba over the past four years. Mandela spend 67 years of his life working to build a better life for all. We are happy to have dedicated 67 minutes of our time to community work in celebration of what Mandela fought and stood for,” he said. He further expressed his gratitude towards the sponsors for their valuable contribution towards the success of the event.
The day also saw the congregation, led by Reverend Moshe Maponya, making additional bricks for the centre.
Maponya said they were happy to strengthen the hands of older persons in Chebeng. “The elderly persons at Lethabong Service Centre for Older Persons are doing great work and their success is our success too. We need to do good at all times. This centre takes care of our parents and God want us to support it because it is our responsibility to do so,” Maponya said.

Story and photos: Herbert Rachuene
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