WATCH: Councilor Rashieda Landis is a honourary doctor

Humanitarian councillor Rashieda Landis is now an honourary doctor after she was honoured on November 28 in Roberstham by Dr Kimberly Quillman, who is a US pastor.

Dr Kimberly from Centre of Hope Global Biblical Institute in Alabama, USA said it was the recommendation of the institute’s faculty to confer on Landis this honour. Family and people close to Landis gathered at 12 Scaw Street to witness this occasion.

Present were Die Mossie Primary School principal Michael Siaga, Uncle Baboo, Booysens SAPS station commander Brigadier Hennie Jones, programme manager at Believers Care Society Alex Iheme, SANCA programmes and project coordinator Kgomotso Dhlamini.

In bestowing the honourary degree, Kimberly said, “Congratulations doctor, you remind me of myself with your selflessness, the way you give selflessly everything you have. When the great prophets spoke with me about this doctorate, it was easy to say yes because the fruits of your labour speak for themselves.

“Today it is the great privilege and great honour that we present you with this Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Social Programme Development, with all the honour rights and privileges and responsibilities.”

Accepting it, Landis said, “It is an honour to receive this from a noble woman and I’m highly favoured at this moment because without Allah God we cannot do anything. We are the chosen ones, the humanitarians, and all the people sitting here are humanitarians as we are linked with one line.

“It is my wish today that you continue the humanitarian work because when I call, you are ready. Especially Uncle Baboo, Mohammed, Scott, my daughter, my husband and my pastor. To be humanitarian you have to be humble, and selfless because when you serve you do it with dignity.

“You don’t speak about what you do, you do it quietly, humbly and everything will be okay.
“However if you go out there and want recognition, you are not a humanitarian. So I humbly request everyone to come on board and let us make this world a better place.”

Congratulations all way round

A few speakers congratulated the newly conferred doctor including Simthembile Gama from Insight Tech Communications who also talked about skills development.

“Congratulations to our latest doctor. I’m here on behalf of skills development and training. One of the initiatives I’m here for is the one of Dr Kimberly’s Hair Dressing Academy here in Robertsham. I’ve been working on that project to put all the compliance up to speed because the qualification that will be offered is Level 5 hairdressing qualification which has 540 credits and you can become a red-sealed hairdresser after that.

“I have been in this field for more than 10 years and also help various organisations to be accredited because if your school doesn’t have accreditation your certificate doesn’t hold any value,” he said.

Iheme said, “We salute you for the outstanding work that you are doing, doctor. Skills development is the way to go. That’s where jobs are, and I will encourage everyone to please refer young people to this place. We should all advocate to make sure that the vision goes well, it takes the whole village to raise one child, we that village.”

Her daughter, Fadeela Tiry said, “You made us all proud. You are the pillar that keeps us all together. You know everything about us and you are there for us.

“The same way you do for us, you do for the community. You are there any day any time, all you need is to ask for help, and she will be there. Even if you are a drug addict or thief and come to her and said I’ve done this and that but I’m hungry, she will give you something.”

Landis’ husband Gayroedien said, “This awesome woman we are talking about today, is a doctor. There’s never a no in her world, when somebody needs something, she’s there for them. I grew up with her, we are now 29 years married and since then we started with humanitarian two or three years before our marriage.

“We know the humanitarian work for 32 years together. Today is a pleasure to see that the fruits she has been picking along the way have given her this position and thank you for honouring her, we are proud as a family and as her husband.”