Thembisa children get a festive treat

The chairperson of Netco and community members hosted a Christmas party for the children of Thembisa on Christmas Day.

The festivities started with cleaning the streets and preparing various activities, including jumping castles, slides, mobile pools and trampolines so the children could enjoy a fun-filled day as a united community.

Last year, the organisers learnt that many parents in the area faced challenges, such as being unable to afford Christmas clothes or buy high-quality branded items.

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Some children struggled to enjoy the festive season because their parents focused on their gatherings rather than them.

Additionally, many lived in cramped backroom spaces with limited room to play.

These circumstances inspired the organisation to host the event, giving the children a day of entertainment and play in a safe and inclusive environment.

Event organiser Lucky Mazibuko shared his thoughts on the initiative, explaining that it was a collective effort by the community to ensure a memorable Christmas for children and parents.

“We hosted this as loving community members, not as Netco. Yes, I am the chairperson, but we organised this event as a community, with donations from local supporters, including Amed, Robert, Geties Tavern, Ayanda Jumping Castle and Msiza Bottle Store in our section, along with contributions from our street residents.

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“We call ourselves ‘Phuthuma Makhelwane’ [Hurry up, neighbour] when organising such events to ensure everything is collectively done,” he said.

Mazibuko noted that the community’s response was overwhelmingly positive because the event reinforced a spirit of togetherness.

“It has now become the norm for households to support one another in addressing community needs, providing entertainment and making donations.

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“It takes the efforts of the community to create a lovely environment, and this initiative proves that communities with great minds can nurture future leaders,” he added.

Mazibuko expressed hope for an even more successful event this year.

“In 2025, we want to do better than our first attempt, provided we receive good support and resources,” he said.