Men of Themba na Mandla examples of change

Along life’s journey many opportunities to balance the scales will present themselves.

Determined to make a righteous return to society, the residents of Themba na Mandla leave no Saturday unfulfilled. Not letting any man enjoy a weekend snooze, the collective pull themselves from their bunks to face the community and insert themselves as messengers of positivity.

As one good deed leads to another, every bit of assistance given to the men at the addiction recovery wellness centre enables them to pass that help on to someone else. Frequenters of the Spar at the corner of Goldman Street and 9th Avenue may have seen the men there several Saturdays this year, hoping to gather monetary donations to assist their cause.

The amounts collected at their traffic light days get pumped straight back into the community. Plaza Road is a notorious drug-dealing hotspot and the residents of Themba na Mandla have chosen this venue to send their message directly to where it is needed most. The recoverees set up their food stand at the corner of Plaza Road and 3rd Avenue, handing out pot fulls of meat and rice on Saturday, 10 April.

The food run was made possible by the generous donations of the community that these men are eager to serve. “We are so used to taking from the community, and giving back made me feel like I am doing something good with my life. If God can grant me the opportunity, it is something I would like to continue in my personal capacity in the future,” said resident, Andries Deysel.

The fresh injection of inspiration has gripped the men at Themba na Mandla and the more faith put in them, the more potential they have to prove any doubters wrong. These willing hands only need a chance, as Andries said, “It is shocking to see how people are struggling, and for us to make a difference is amazing. It is something small but it comes from the heart.”