On a bright morning in Randburg, something rather special was taking shape.
Residents, young and old, made their way to a free Community Health and Wellness Day at Randburg Square, drawn in by the promise of care that many of them would otherwise struggle to find. For one day, the sort of health services that can feel out of reach for ordinary people were right there, on their doorstep and free of charge.

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The event was put together by Shinchonji Volunteers, working alongside the South African National Blood Service and the department of health.
Grace Peta, one of the coordinators, said, “We realised that there is a shortage of blood donation within our communities in Randburg, and even a lack of access to basic healthcare. So we decided to bring it here, where people are, so that healthcare can be accessible to everyone.”

Attendees were able to donate blood, while others took the opportunity to get free health checks covering everything from HIV and blood pressure to iron levels. Pick n Pay came on board as a sponsor, ensuring that anyone who donated had water, fruit, and a snack waiting for them afterwards.

Peta was heartened by the response, though she noticed that most of those who turned up were elderly, with younger residents largely absent. She found this concerning, but also telling.

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“You can see that these are people who don’t normally have access to this kind of service. It shows that we are achieving what we set out to do, bringing basic healthcare to ordinary people who cannot really afford these services on a day-to-day basis.”

For Phindulo Mulaudzi, donating blood was a deeply personal decision. When her mother suffered a stroke, she saw first-hand how critical it is for blood to be available in a crisis.

“Me donating blood is helping somebody,” she said. “It’s saving the world, it’s healing the world.”

The day showed what is possible when people work together with a shared purpose, not as a grand gesture, but as a community simply deciding to look after its own.

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