The Noah’s Ark Yeoville aftercare centre for vulnerable children has appealed to members of the public to help restore vital items that were stolen by thieves from the centre in Bedford Street.
Chairperson of the committee which runs the centre, Reverend Tsepo Matubatuba said thieves broke into the facility which offers aftercare services to orphaned and vulnerable primary and high school children from Yeoville and surrounding areas.
The centre caters for over 90 children from the age of seven and has been operating since 2004. Matubatuba said, “After school pupils come to the centre to get assistance with their homework and various school projects, they also get a meal and are looked after while some of their parents are at work.
“The break-in has effected us terribly because we are opening our doors again after the festive break, they have stolen our gas stove which we use to cook meals for the children daily, as well as all the pots, stationery and a kettle among other items.”
Zukiswa Mhambi a child activity co-ordinator said they were deeply saddened, “It is quite a setback because we don’t even know what we are going to use to cook when the schools re-open.”
Matubatuba added that a few months ago thieves broke into the classroomss and took about 14 chairs that the children sit on while completing their school work, “These are items that were donated to us by well-intending donors; and they also took a computer used for administration purposes.”
The caretaker had gone home briefly to spend time with his family, and upon return last week he found the door had been tampered with. Matubatuba said they reported the case to police who came to take fingerprints.
“What is sad is the criminals don’t even consider that this is a community project of which their own children could be beneficiaries,” he said.
Yeoville police spokesperson Constable Thabo Malatji said an investigation was underway.
Matubatuba appealed to “anybody who can help with restoring the items, especially the gas stoves, pots and helping us with the installation of a security system”.
Details: Reverend Tsepo Matubatuba 083 773 7382.
-
-
-
-
