VRYHEID KZN: Donating to the needy
their household is not in a good condition - they didn’t have a bed to sleep on in this cold weather and no basic needs were being met.
The JOC (Joint Operations Committee), Salvation Army, Department of Social Development, EDTEA and the Department of Education visited a young lady last week. There are five children in her household, aged nine, seven, five, three years old and the last born being only three months old. It is alleged that she moved from Johannesburg, where she used to work as a domestic worker, to live with her grandmother. After she moved in with her grandmother in Vryheid, things did not go as planned and she had to move out and find her own place.
She now stays in the Jabavu area with her five kids. It is said that the two older children would go to Mpofini High School every break time to try and get some soup or anything else to eat. One of the educators at Mpofini asked them why they were always at the school and they had to explain their situation at home. Mrs Mtshali (the educator at Mpofini) then contacted Mrs Maseko from Vryheid Comprehensive Secondary School to ask her for clothes, as she usually donates clothing to those in need. The lady is said to have no ID (Identity Document) and the children don’t have birth certificates, which makes it difficult for the children to attend school. Mkhanyiseli Mhlongo from the Salvation Army said that their household is not in a good condition – they didn’t have a bed to sleep on in this cold weather and no basic needs were being met. They had no electricity and they fetch water at the nearest house at night, as they are not allowed to freely get water”.
Mrs Maseko said, “After I heard this sad story of the boys, I went to Mpofini High School during break time to hand over some winter clothes and food to the small boys. I contacted a few of my friends and former students of Vryheid Comprehensive Secondary School. Most of them were touched after hearing the story and promised to assist where they could. Mrs Lungile Ntshangase, who matriculated in 2004 at Vryheid Comprehensive, deposited money into my account and asked me to buy a double bed, groceries and other household essentials for them, and I did as she requested. They were very happy when we delivered these items and she thanked Lungile on the cellphone.’’ Mrs Maseko says she believes that the woman is going to receive more help from others as well; one Good Samaritan is prepared to bring them soup every day from her church.
The young lady confirmed that she had an interview with the Department of Home Affairs and has been requested to go and check her details on June 17. She also confirmed that she engaged with social workers from eBhekuzulu and they promised to get back to her. In addition, she visited Mr Nxumalo from the Department of Education, as her children are not attending school. The Department of Social Development and social workers are intervening in this matter.
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