City of Johannesburg Region E employees rolled up their sleeves in commemoration of Mandela Day on 18 July, together with its major partner, Gift of the Givers.
The regional director for Region E, Liziwe Ntshinga-Makoro was joined by the Speaker of the City of Joburg Council, Conny Bapela at Sithandiwe Disbaled Care Centre in Lombardy East where much-needed renovations were done.
The centre is a community driven project that caters for physically and mentally challenged individuals who are aged between six and 22. It was founded by Thandi Ndlovu-Sifeke, affectionately known as Mam’Thandi, who grew up disabled herself. She explained that after experiencing hardships and difficulties, she was inspired to help others in the same situation as herself.
The centre looks after a total of 52 individuals of which nine are permanent residents. Mam’Thandi began her journey with six children in two classes at the Roman Catholic Church in Alexandra before she moved to Lombardy East.
Activities for the day were painting, tiling, planting seedlings and a symbolic tree, and cleaning the yard and property.
A ramp was constructed by Spectron. The pruning of trees was done by Joburg City Parks and Zoo who came with enough garden tools for volunteers. The soil preparation and delivery of compost were led by field experts of City Parks and Zoo.
Volunteers from Citizens Relationship and Urban management (Crum) in Region E joined in with City Parks for garden works and cleaning of the yard before venturing into the other activities. Alex FM came on board and entertained all those who graced the occasion.
The participants of the day were Region E Youth Advisory Centre who organised the homes and confirmed the work to be undertaken; Spectron provided the ramp, paint and brushes; Gift of the Givers donated tiles for class and office, nappies, clothes and blankets, ensured two blocked toilets were fixed, supplied office furniture and food parcels and detergent; Joburg Water, Pikitup and Joburg City Parks and Zoo also did the garden preparation and ploughing; Region E delivered T-shirts and three blenders for the people with cerebral palsy on behalf of Bayethe. Other volunteers on board were Khuphulanani, Zinto and MTN.
Mam’Thandi thanked all who participated in the commemoration ensuring a lasting legacy for Sithandiwe Home while heeding the call by Nelson Mandela to make a difference when he stated in 2002, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
Other homes that benefited were Refilwe Legae Home and Siyondla Umphakathi who received a concertina door for the bathroom installed by Spectron and a toilet door; while winter clothes, nappies, food parcels, 50 mats and blankets were provided by Gift of the Givers.
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