A cheque to the value of R100 000, and more than 1 000 vegetable seedlings were donated by Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) to Ethembeni Care Centre on Mandela Day.

Ethembeni Care Centre is a step down care facility for mainly HIV/Aids and TB patients, situated in KwaMbonambi. Ethembeni not only provides a step down service for patients, but also offers voluntary counseling and testing, social security, an antiretroviral drugs education programme and ‘buddy’ support system for people living with HIV/Aids.

RBCT employees visited Ethembeni Care Centre on Thursday, 18 July with a donation of more than 1 000 vegetable seedlings. In true spirit of Madiba, the RBCT representatives also got their hands dirty and did some serious gardening, planting seedlings in the centre’s vegetable garden.

This is a value-add, and sustainable donation that will assist to feed the centre for many months. The vegetable crop produced will ensure continued nutrition for the residents.

RBCT also donated a cheque to the value of R100 000 to further assist the care centre in the work they are doing.

Mrs Mavundla, the facility manager, expressed her appreciation to RBCT for the great gesture shown to the centre.

She highlighted that the much needed funding would make a huge difference to the NGO, assisting them to continue looking after the numerous patients in their care.