Orphaned girls get Mandela Day surprise

In celebration of Mandela Day and Mandela Month, the Department of Social Development (DSD) made a life-changing contribution to a child-headed house at Emadamini section in Wesselton.
The family of two girls, Ntokozo (18) and Simphiwe (14) Khumalo, were beneficiaries of the DSD’s action.
The day started with DSD officials giving the girls’ house a make-over as they plastered the walls, installed new doors, new windows, painted the house, brought food parcels, furniture, new electrical appliances and the ladies helped with the washing outside.
According to DSD official Nancy Manana, Ward 2 councillor Elizabeth Msizana and Community Development Worker (CDW) Happiness Nkosi informed their office about the situation at the Khumalo household.
After performing their assessment, they saw the need to assist.
“We wanted to give that family life-changing assistance, one that would make their lives a little easier. That’s when we approached several businesses for donations,” said Ms Manana.
The Khumalo girls dropped out of school in February because they did not have school uniforms and could not deal with the death of their mother.
The sisters, one aspiring to be a social worker and the other a pilot, have been dependent on handouts from their neighbours and wish to go back to school.
They are thankful to the DSD for their help and their neighbours for all the help they have offered.
Nancy Manana encourages the community to identify vulnerable children and report such cases to them for intervention.
Ms Manana extended her appreciation to her colleagues for their time and helping out at the Khumalo family.
“I also wish to thank the following businesses for their contributions: Cassim Motors and the following traders, Misakahle, Zamayende, Nkoyinkoyi, Malingakhulu, Zamakhwane and Guqangamadolo,” she said.