Rotary Morningside honours community superheroes
MORNINGSIDE – The recipients were chairman of the Early Care Foundation and founder of the Oratile Childhood Development centre in Diepsloot Abram Kgari, director of the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca) Centre Terrence Makananisa and Kwena Molapo High School headmaster Michael Malingana.
The Rotary Club of Morningside continues to honour the community’s unsung heroes.
In a recent formal ceremony host by the club, three extraordinary members of the community were honoured for their consistent ‘service above self’.
The recipients were chairman of the Early Care Foundation and founder of the Oratile Childhood Development centre in Diepsloot, Abram Kgari, director of the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca) Centre, Terrence Makananisa and Kwena Molapo High School headmaster Michael Malingana.
According to Rotary Morningside’s Annemarie van Wieringen, Kgari displayed selfless leadership in taking it upon himself, at his own expense, to ensure that the 90 teachers associated with the foundation who went without a salary during the lockdown did not suffer.
The families that were linked to the day-care centre also continued to receive their daily meals while schools were closed.
“He later became a key link in relief efforts driven by the Rotary Club of Morningside, working diligently with stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of his efforts to ensure the teachers and young children who they look after, were seen through this difficult time,” said van Wieringen.
Sanca’s Makananisa was honoured with the rotary’s highest honour, the Paul Harris Award for his work at the centre over the past 21 years.
He is responsible for seven Sanca stations, including Diepsloot, and a few years ago he also took on the responsibility for the organisation’s first in-patient rehabilitation centre at Golden Harvest.
More recently, Makananisa successfully responded to the City of Johannesburg’s request for assistance with several Covid-19 induced homeless shelters where substance abuse counselling and major feeding schemes were taking place.
“His support in many ways to the Rotary Morningside Club has been invaluable. Especially noteworthy has been the assistance given to us for several Rotary Family Health Days held in Diepsloot,” said Rotarian Paul Runge who is also on the Sanca board.
Malingana was the second recipient of the Paul Harris Award for his incredible work at the school. He was nominated by Salman Khan who came across Kweza Molapo, a hidden centre of excellence, in 2007 when the school had 700 learners with a matric pass rate of 79 per cent.
“Since the first meeting with Malingana and after several interventions by the club including installing a library, a water system, a multi-purpose sports court and several painting and refurbishment projects, the school under Malingana’s leadership responded by continuing to improve its pass rate year on year,” said Van Wieringen.
The club thanks all three men for their devotion to their community.
Details: 082 496 8513.
Related articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/278753/rotary-morningside-provides-support-to-outreach-centre/
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/293219/rotary-morningside-donates-r42-000-in-food-to-diepsloot/
