IT was a day of celebration and appreciation on Saturday when the community of Dalton Hostel shared their journey with local businesses under the Umbilo Business Association (UBA).

There were tears and laughter as each resident shared how the businesses had changed their lives over the decades. The man at the centre of change was Steve Thusi, the community leader at Dalton Hostel, who was hailed as a Good Samaritan for forging alliances with businesses, in the process affording employment for the hostel dwellers.

Doran Subiah, chairperson of the UBA, highlighted that if the balance between local businesses and the community works well, the two parties prosper together.

“As the business community, we employ locals not merely for giving back, but we strive to restore dignity and support livelihoods. This celebration is a recognition of loyalty, and we aim to strengthen that relation in years to come,” Subiah said.

The hostel residents each narrated how, through Thusi, their lives had changed for the better. They thanked the local businesses for restoring hope, and for always instilling the ideals of Ubuntu.

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