Child-headed households in Tarlton assisted

This past Mandela Day, July 18, the South African Local Government Association (Salga) joined hands with Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) to help two child-headed households in Tarlton.

The theme of this year’s International Nelson Mandela Day was ‘Do what you can, with what you have, where you are’.

Salga joined the world in rolling out various community uplifting interventions across the length and breadth of the country. According to a statement released by Salga, “This year marks the 13th year since the United Nations General Assembly declared Nelson Mandela’s birthday, International Nelson Mandela Day. The declaration is a global call to action for people to recognise their ability by making a difference in their communities.

“In commemorating Mandela Day in 2022, Salga in the Gauteng Province partnered with the Council for Debt Collectors and MCLM to provide two child-headed households within the Mogale City vicinity with household essentials including blankets, beds, crockery and food. The municipality has also provided temporary shelter to one of the two families which did not have adequate shelter and will also work to provide them with permanent housing. The two households are headed by orphaned youths aged 22 and 17 respectively.”

The delegation to these homes was led by the Executive Mayor of MCLM, Tyrone Gray, Salga Deputy Chairperson, Nonkoliso Tundzi Hawu, and Salga Working Group Chairperson for Human Settlements and Urban Agenda, Miriam Mogoje.

Addressing the community of Tarlton, Mayor Gray committed to working with the provincial Department of Human Settlements to expedite the provision of a house to one of the families in dire need of it.

Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee member, Nonkoliso Tundzi urged community members to continue with the spirit of ubuntu and help look after the children who no longer had parents and had become vulnerable as a result.