“Churches play a very important role in our society; they have made a very important contribution in addressing social ills, HIV and AIDS, drugs, crime, abuse of children and women and poverty alleviation,” said Mayor, Thulani Mahaye, while presenting grants-in-aid totalling R233 500 to various local organisations.
He was at pains to point out that ‘grants are not given because of political affiliation’.”We do follow certain criteria and guidelines as laid down by Council.” Speaker Sduduzo Mdluli said some of the money granted to the clubs/organisations must be used to ‘conduct a workshop where they will be educated on how to write business plans to help upgrade their businesses.”
He also appealed for these organisations to apply for finance from the Matsepe Foundation and Lotto.
Both the Mayor and Speaker emphasised that all those who had received money previously from the council would be ‘monitored’.
Grant-in-aid applications received:
Umzinyathi Cricket Association R4000; Tennis Club: R4000; United Sports Club: R15500; Evangelical Lutheran Church of SA- Dundee Parish: R17000;
R4000; MT Zion Faith Ministry R4000; Open Space Ministries R11000; New Free Apostolic Christian Church of SA R4000; Catholic Women’s Association R4000; Ramakrishna Centre of SA- Dundee- R7000; Parish of St Phillip’s R11000; St John’s Apostolic Faith Mission of SA R17000; Olusha Youth Stokvel R7000; Bajays Entertainment: R11000; Dundee Adult Care Centre R11000; SAVF Dundee Bejaardesorg- Dundee Aged Care R4000; Glencoe Outreach Support and Resource Centre R4000; SAVF Dundee Diessentrum R4000; Young Dance Organisation R4000; Gideon Foundation R4000; His Goodness and Mercy Creative Arts R4000; Mvundla Luncheon Club R7000; Endumeni Block Making Co- operative R11000; Vulindlela Poultry Farming Co-operative R11000; Siyayifukula Farming Co-op R11000; Nana’s Farm & Nursery Co- operative R7000; Mpandeyomnotho Cleaning Co-operative R11000; Sibongile Farmers Association R17000; Thand’impilo Poultry Project R7000.
Additional funds will be paid to the Holy Ministry of Zion – R 2000 and Craigside Simunye Recycling Organisation – R 5500.