Forty identified poor families living in Extension 39 near Mmabatho, recently received blankets, food parcels and winter wear.
This is a humanitarian relief programme by the North West Department of Local Government in partnership with the Red Cross and Mafikeng Local Municipality to lend a helping hand in keeping poor communities warm during this winter season.
During the handover session held at Phase 4 in Extension 39, Chief Director for Local Government at the department, Ms Mapatane Kgomo said the initiative was intended to help communities keep warm and also create awareness on the dangers of fire and other hazardous activities during this cold season.
“This will not be the end of our involvement as a department. We will continue profiling communities through our Community Development Workers (CDWs) to identify more households so that they too can become beneficiaries of this great initiative”, Kgomo said.
Kelesitse Kitse, an unemployed female from Phase 1 in Extension 39 said that she couldn’t afford to buy these items for herself as she is unemployed.
“It brings so much joy to my heart to see government coming up with such initiatives, especially after the recent local government elections. I am an unemployed youth and I couldn’t afford to buy these items for myself. Hence my wish is to see government create more jobs to curb the culture of poor communities depending solely on government handouts”, said Kitse.
More communities were identified including those in the Motlhabeng and Tontonyane villages. The department will continue to roll out this programme and visit more communities in the next few weeks.
Enquiries:
Dineo Lolokwane
Cell: 072 542 8444
