Eldorado Park GBV survivor gifted a new home
According to the chairperson of the Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC), Cheryl Pillay, the mother escaped the abuse and was left destitute.
“We are facing the Covid-19 pandemic that has led to many countries instituting lockdowns that have prevented people from engaging in the income-generating activity.
“We have also seen global anti-racist protests, sparked by events in the US, and, closer to home, where gender-based violence (GBV) continues to rock the nation,” said the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
As the nation is faced with GBV, on July 18 which was Mandela Day the keys of a cottage were handed over to a GBV survivor and her children in Eldorado Park.
According to the chairperson of the Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC), Cheryl Pillay, the mother escaped the abuse and was left destitute.
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“Thanks to the goodwill from the community, we renovated the dilapidated cottage into a home, furnished it, and paid up the rental for a year.
“Groceries were also donated. Could not have achieved this without the tireless work of the Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC), the Community Policing Forum (CPF), Eldorado Park SAPS, Eldorado Park Neighbourhood Watch (EPNW), Emergency Management Services, local stakeholders, family, friends, and local businesses.”
MMC of Community Development, Margaret Arnolds was also present to hand over the keys. The MMC said: “Cheryl took us to where the mother and her children were living and we could not understand why someone has to go through that, and immediately our instinct as mothers and sisters kicked in and we had to do something.”
“Fortunately, all this happened in the time of Mandela Day but we are doing this out of love for her and her children. We were taught by Nelson Mandela to give rather to receive and what we are giving to you today is your life back, giving your security.”
“Whenever you need anything, we will be here for you, we will help you to get your children into school. Today, I want to handover this key to give you a safe place, even the constitution states that every child needs to have shelter, needs education, and a safe environment and this is what we want to create for you.”
Ward Councillor Fazel Jaffer added: “I would like to start off by congratulating the team who worked with this project, you guys are amazing.
“I think that Covid-19 is not just a pandemic but we have learned so much through it, it was a pandemic of opportunity, of innovation and we also learned that we can do so many things without government.
“This team does this throughout the year so it is not just because it is Mandela Day. To the new family I want to welcome you home, let this new home be filled with love. You have friends, leaders, and stakeholders here to support you.”
The children all said a prayer together in their new home with their mother and with everyone else who was present. The mother was too emotional to say anything as she sat on her new bed in disbelief of what her new life now looks like.
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