Ward 118 embraces Thuma Mina campaign

The Ward 118 ANC Raymond Mhlaba branch has joined President Cyril Ramaphosa on the Thuma Mina (Send Me) campaign.

Read: Pietersen ready to serve ward 118

The campaign aims to address social issues in the community.

“We have service delivery issues which are the responsibilities of our councillors. We also have the social issues in our wards that require us as residents to intervene and assist. We have disadvantaged families in our community who need assistance. Thuma Mina is about voluntering to help those in need,” said branch secretary Sipho Mthembu.

The branch, in collaboration with Generation for Christ International Church from Malvern, decided as part of the Thuma Mina campaign they will provide groceries, clothes, and blankets to 51 families who are in dire need of assistance in the Jumpas Informal Settlement.

Read: Don’t succumb to intimidation – Clr Pietersen

Pastor Genene Woldesemayat said: “As a church, we saw there is a need in the community and we wanted to help. We don’t want to nurture only the soul but the body as well as. The community has a number of social challenges which as a church we want to try and help address.”

He said as a church they are a pillar of the community.

Also read: Meet ward 118 committee member Freddie Yende

“We want to be the hope for the community and restore the faith in the community. As foreign nationals, we have found a home in South Africa and we want to also give back and assist where we can,” he said.

Cleveland CPF chairperson Godfrey Mothibe said he was touched by the act of kindness from the branch and church.

“We should learn from this act of kindness. We need to stand up as a community and work together in fighting issues that make life uncomfortable for us. We urge the community to support CPF and the possibility to fight crime and social issues. We can never change our area if we sit and do nothing.

“We have to work to making things right,” said Mothibe.

Ward 118 councillor Neuren Pietersen was also present at the event were he thanked the church for playing a role.

“A church is a place of hope where people can find refuge. I’m happy to see that pastor Genene saw a need in the community and look at how he can assist,” said Pietersen.

Clr Alison Roberts, Ward 118 ANC PRO, said the church has gone beyond the expectations and understood the meaning of the Thuma Mina campaign.

“As a branch, we would like to thank the church for the donations. They have truly shown they believe in the Word of God. They have expressed the interest of supporting and helping in the community and we support them and welcome their help as a branch,” said Roberts.

She said this is the beginning of many Thuma Mina events in the community.

“We have a number of social issue in our communities that need to be addressed and we want the community to know we are here to listen.”

The president has said with this campaign he wants to raise developmental public activism among South African citizens.

For more news and interesting articles, like Joburg East Express on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Email joburgeast@caxton.co.za