Paradise Park residents host a “Know your neighbour” event

The event was organised by children of the first residents of the township who were themselves just mere toddlers when the township was established in 1988. Mpumi Madela, who is in her early 30s, described the occasion as a “revival” of a community social tradition under which she and her childhood friends were raised.

“We just want to bring back the spirit of good neighbourliness among local residents with the hope of getting the community to meet and know each other. We are also trying to break the monotony of neighbours always having to meet each other only at burials,” said Molefi Kamba, whose parents were among the first residents of Paradise Park.

“We hope to revive and extend this unifying community atmosphere to other young people of our generation in the neighborhood. We would like them to also come forward and carry the community spirit even further forward and build on it a better future for our community,” explained Namtha Mlumbi, whose parents were among the early families to settle in the township at the time it was established in 1988.

Also present to entertain the community was celebrated musician and former bandleader Dan “Gandaganda” Nkosi, a one-time popular who is also one of the early local residents to settle in Paradise Park. As an elder in the community, the celebrated musician also spoke briefly to the group of young children about the benefits of good behaviour against the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse.

And what a warm, wonderful, sunny and relaxing day it was for the residents of Paradise Park.