The good, the bad and the ugly in Mamelodi in 2019
The good, the bad and the ugly of the news that touched the residents of Mamelodi in 2019.
Events ranged from the good, the bad and the ugly in Mamelodi the past year.
The bad:
As Mamelodi residents were preparing for the festive season, heavy rains displaced more than 700 families by flooding their shacks. Most of the people who were affected where from informal settlements. Luckily no lives were lost and the residents were seen rebuilding their shacks again.
At the beginning of the year fear was sparked around Mamelodi. It was alleged that Mamelodi businessman Vusi Khekhe Mathibela was behind it all. It was said that he belonged to a group “terrorising” the community over a period of time. Even the police minister Bheki Cele paid a visit to the residents. The alleged suspect was later arrested and is awaiting trial in police custody.
There were a lot of cases of unwanted babies reported this year. Bophelong health centre in Mamelodi East encourages women to use their Baby Safe Drop that was launched in 2013.
It lets mothers give up their unwanted babies to be safely adopted or taken into foster care.
“It was started because there were so many babies abandoned in and around Mamelodi,” said Rose Ngoetjana, nursing service manager at the Bophelong.
“Since then we managed to save about 50 babies.”
The ugly:
Gender-based violence was another big issue affecting residents, bringing the whole community together starting to support each other and coming up with different programmes to raise awareness.
It was reported that residents came upon the grisly discovery of body parts at the doorstep of two residents.
The police, once again working with the residents, managed to arrest a suspect who is awaiting trial.
Organisations such as #Notinmyname and ANC Women’s League were also working tirelessly to make sure justice prevails to support different victims of violence in Mamelodi.
The good:
A 15-year-old teenager born and raised in Mamelodi, won Miss Teen South Africa for 2019 and went to represent the country in the Miss Teen Global beauty pageant.
Oratilwe Mashigo, now residing in Nellmapius Extension 7, made the country proud and came back with three sashes from the pageant in Brazil, which took place from 14 to 20 October.
She won the Miss Teen Global Cordiality, Miss Teen Global Beauty Congeniality and made it to the Top 7 in the Miss Teen Global beauty.
Thandanani Drop Inn Centre in Mamelodi was also working hard throughout the year helping ex-drug users in Mamelodi reclaim their lives from nyaope.
They started the Narcotics Anonymous Programme at the Centre in Section SnS, Mamelodi East.
Sports activities once again played a big role in keeping Mamelodi kids busy and away from drugs and crime.
Mamelodi Sundowns also made its supporters proud by winning the 2019 Telkom Knockout Cup against Maritzburg United, beating them 2-1.
READ MORE: Good Samaritan helps rebuild two houses in the east
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
