Saturday, 18 July was the first Mandela Day, an international campaign to honour South African struggle icon Nelson Mandela in his 67 years in humanitarian work. In celebrating the significance of the day the Department of Local Government and Housing MEC MK Lekgoro joined by officials, businesses and other stakeholders got their hands dirty by spending their 67 minutes of community service at Lenasia. The team did activities such as painting, gardening and preparing vegetable soup in Eldorado Park Women's Forum (EPWF) a shelter for the abused women and children. About eight sponsors donated all the required materials to see the shelter running.
EPWF shelter is a three bedroom house with two outside rooms currently being extended to accommodate more people. The shelter currently accommodates about 10 women and 19 children who walk in from the streets and those referred by the Department of Health and Social Development.
MEC Lekgoro reiterated that government alone cannot eliminate the act of violence against women and children as this affects everyone in the society. “I would like to commend the effort made by all these sponsors who came in support of this initiative and joined us in an effort to uplifting and restoring people's dignity,” said Lekgoro.
Metro FM's personality Penny Lebyane took time off from the airwaves to join the MEC at the shelter. This shelter, EPWF is among the 16 shelters identified by the Gauteng Department of Local Government and Housing throughout the province for renovation.
The shelter was founded by the EPWF which was established in 2000 to care for abused women and children and offers services such as youth and skills development.
Later the officials joined Head of Department Oupa Seabi at Meadowlands hostels where they visited a house that burned due to a heater left unsupervised. The department together with the City of Johannesburg will renovate the house in partnership with L.R Big Brain Civil Construction Company that donated the building materials.
Issued by: Department of Local Government and Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government
21 July 2009
Source: Department of Local Government and Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.housing.gpg.gov.za/)
