Rekord Cares reaches out to Centurion haven for the homeless

As part of their Rekord Cares project, the sales team of Rekord reached out and visited the residents of Moeggesukkel, a non-governmental organisation.

Moeggesukkel provides shelter, nourishment, rehabilitation, and employment opportunities to individuals who have reached a low point and need a second chance.

The team was taken on a tour of the projects taking place at the organisation’s premises on the corner of Springbok and Du Toit roads in Timsrand AH, Centurion.

Project manager David Botha showed the team how the residents participate in a work creation project, making beds and sofas for a branch of the organisation that rents beds for people to also buy when they can afford to.

“But this is so much more than just providing employment for more than 70 residents. It is about restoring dignity,” Botha said.

The sales team was also joined by the founder of the organisation, Jacques Papenfus, to whom the sales manager, Sajedah Ameer, handed over a donation of pre-loved clothes, bedding, and towels that were collected by the team.

Papenfus shared how he and a partner in a garden service company, Lucas Mputi, started the organisation by bringing their first street-based individuals near Church Square to a home in their pink-striped Conquest garden services bakkie.

More than 15 years later, Papenfus and his teams have helped thousands of individuals come off the streets of Pretoria to find a safe place to get back on their feet.

The Rekord team was introduced to the workers in the bed and sofa factory, as well as to Vernon Matthysen, who helps with the chicken farming project.

Some residents have been provided with show-quality chickens by the South African Poultry Association to earn money by putting these chickens and their offspring up for auction.

Moeggetjank is a new project where a pet hotel is currently being constructed where dogs can be kennelled while owners are away.

“Christmas and Easter are seldom times of joy for people without families or a home of their own. We hope that looking after the animals, especially during those times, will help our residents,” said Papenfus.

The premises of Moeggesukkel originally comprised a few abandoned buildings without roofs. The owners made the property available rent-free for three years to the organisation, who were able to buy it after the three years expired.

Repair work to the buildings is an ongoing project overseen by Nick van Rensburg, the housefather.

Lian Papenfus, Jacques’ wife, is responsible for five foster children as well as three other children and manages the school drive. She will also help with the food trailer that will be taken to certain spots in Centurion from the first week of March to raise funds for the organisation.

The Rekord team also met with Centurion occupational therapist, Hezanne Roodt, who showed them some of the artwork she had done earlier that morning at a therapy session with the residents.

For Ameer, the visit was a real eye-opener. “There are so many different ways that we can help people gain confidence to start again. We need to see these opportunities for what they are when they come our way and reach out to touch lives. It is always fulfilling to help someone else, like with this visit, to move a little forward on their own life journey.”

For Ernest Skosana of the sales team, the visit was important because he feels people in dire circumstances need to know that someone cares.

“We can learn from Jacques and his team that reaching out means a lot to people and can be a lifeline. But what I liked is that they also care about the animals and the environment,” remarked Skosana.

Laiza Maleka remarked that it was good to meet the Moeggesukkel family.

“We all need a family, and in life, some of us learn like at Moeggesukkel, that family is not necessarily someone from your bloodline, but anyone who is aware of your needs in so many ways and helps you meet them.”

– The Rekord sales team plans on doing similar outreaches across a broad spectrum of welfare organisations for the rest of the year. For more information, contact sajedaha@rekord.co.za.

– If you want to help Jacques Papenfus and his team at Moeggesukkel to assist street-based and homeless people to be safer and cared for at their premises, as well as the more than 200 individuals in need that they supply with food packages (including the veggie meat and blitz shake as developed by nutritionists for the organisation) call on 073 329 5174 or info@moeggesukkel.co.za.

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