If you happen to be in Freedom Park, Devland for any reason, I would suggest taking a walk to the Sinecedine Elderly Cultural Centre (SECC) on the corner of Taurus and Nova Streets. There you will see a bright green U-shaped structure bordered on either side by JoJo water containers.
In the middle of this neat structure, you will notice a group of elderly citizens engaged in various craft-making activities. Ranging from sewing to traditional bead making, this group embody sustainability through the various endeavours they engage in.
A registered Non-governmental Organisation, SECC was founded by mam’ Khabisile Mkaliphi (61) in March 2014. As a newly retired person, she found herself with way too much idle time on her hands and not one to rest on her laurels decided to do something about it.
The group grew from meeting in her home to being allocated the parcel of land by former Mayor Parks Tau through the City of Joburg in keeping with the Integrated Development Plan. They are an extremely industrious collective who knit, bead, make traditional straw hats and mats and have a complement of 150 elderly people from Naturena, Slovo Park, Siyaya, Saint Martin, Extension 27 and Bushkoppies.
Khabisile Khaliphi says that many aged residents are left at home during the day and often have to deal with errant grandchildren who act out various abuses on them. The centre is the ideal place for them to obtain assistance from their peers and occupies their time constructively.
Thabiso Rakomane (43) is the group’s marketing organiser and he can be seen hoofing it daily to ensure that the centre remains running efficiently. He says that Ward 119 councillor Oupa Ngwenya often digs into his own pocket to provide financial assistance as the centre is in need of furniture, stoves, office equipment, refrigerators, and gardening equipment.
Co-founder Khethiwe Mkhaliphi (44) says that they often experience problems getting members to the centre as some members live in the surrounding areas mentioned earlier. They are active within the community and liaise with the community to blow the whistle on criminal activity in the area. Not to be outdone, they also welcome destitute families, orphans and run a choir.
Thabiso Rakomane says: “The centre must be useful to the community through the various programmes we offer.”
Mkhaliphi adds that: “We promote prayer sessions every Thursday because we believe that everything starts and ends with prayer.”
WATCH video below:
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