To mark the end of Women's Month, which was celebrated in August, the women in the North West Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs took a stand against poverty by donating food parcels and clothes to impoverished families in Extension 39 near Mmabatho.
Chief Director of Local Government, Mapatane Kgomo, said the initiative came during a women's dialogue, a platform she recently created for women in her chief directorate to discuss issues affecting women from health to business with specific focus on women empowerment.
She said it was during one of these sessions that it came to light that there are impoverished families in Extension 39 which are mainly headed by unemployed women.
"Their children cannot access government grants due to the fact their parents don't even have identity documents and we decided to contribute the little that by donating clothes and food parcels. Let us count our blessing and lend a helping hand where we can," she said.
The project was facilitated by Botlhale Mofokeng, Director for Municipal Finance and Support in the department. She said she was moved by the conditions in which these families live and vowed to assist.
"These women are faced with different social challenges on daily basis and strive for a better life each day. I'm not saying that we can carry the world on our shoulders but this is an opportunity for us to do our bit as women in local government," she said.
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