Hypermarket lends a helping hand
A local supermarket helped to put the spirit of Ubuntu back into the community of Boltonia.
Change can happen when the whole community starts believing in a dream.
When Lebo Motswere got the idea of transforming a piece of land that used to be a park but had turned into a dumping site, he hoped to return it to its former glory.
But he had no idea how many challenges he would be facing. A few residents of Boltonia bought into his idea and offered their labour for free, but several setbacks such as vandalism and no help from the rest of the community caused some of them to withdraw.
Motswere contacted the news last year for advice and assistance. When the news team saw the amount of work that had been put in already and his enthusiastic vision of a park where children can play instead of being on the street, they decided to help.
This week President Hyper donated a 40-metre hosepipe, kicking and tennis balls, crayons, colouring-in sheets, aprons for the children to wear when colouring in, compost, flowers and tons of smiles.
Sharon Govender and her team of Dakeni Mthembu and Tshiudzi Mulaudzi from President Hyper spent an afternoon with Motswere and his team to plant various plants and flowers.
Unfortunately the water pressure that Mogale City Local Municipality made available to the team was low, but that did not stop everyone from making sure that the soil for the plants was watered sufficiently.
With wheelbarrows, buckets and fresh ideas, water was taken to where it was needed.
Govender says she is glad to be part of the project and to be able to lend a hand.
“I’m thrilled to be part as this is a good cause. We hope that other businesses and community members will follow suit and help to create a happy place for children.”
She says President Hyper will remain committed to the project and will continue to help by offering manual labour.
Motswere says he is left speechless by the amount of help he has received and is continuing to receive from the community.
“I praise God that he is listening to my prayers and sending me all the right people. It would not have been possible without the support of the news team.”
He expressed his gratitude to President Hyper who he says not only puts smiles on his face, but also on the faces of the children of this neighbourhood.
“They are helping to create an environment where the children can play safely – this is making a difference already.”
Related articles:
• Park upgrade goes ahead without council support
• Dumpsite to park site — bit by bit
