The Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism through transversal section donated two large Defy four plates stoves amounting to R16 000 to the Land a Hand Home Based Care project at Tonga in Nkomazi local municipality.
The home based care which started in 2002 is taking care of 206 patients suffering from different sicknesses which include HIV and AIDS, and 60 orphans.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, MEC for the department, JL Mahlangu said “It is the mandate of the department to support the initiatives aimed at empowering and helping the society, especially women and children. You bring hope to the hopeless, you bring light to those who are in darkness, you are the father to the fatherless,” MEC Mahlangu emphasised, encouraging members of the base care project to carry on doing the good job.
Handing over the stoves to Land a Hand Home Based Care project MEC quoted Matthew 25:31 “I was hungry and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. I was in prison, and you didn’t visit me. I was naked and you didn’t give me any clothes.”
“What you are doing to the community of Tonga is what Jesus wants you to do and I believe it will bring you rewards in heaven,” he said.
After the project complained about the lack of electricity on the project to keep the stoves alight, the department committed itself on helping the home based care project with the connection fee of electricity.
Speaking on behalf of the project, Ms Gumede Essah explained the donation as an answer to their prayer after they have been using wood to cook for more than 100 people.
“You might think what you have donated is tiny, but we value your efforts with the assurance of changing the lives of the people of Tonga,” Ms Gumede said.
MEC urged business people to follow the footsteps of the department and support the non-governmental organisations.
Contact person:
Mohau Ramodibe
Tel: 013 766 4271 or 4148
Cell: 082 771 9950
Issued by: Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
21 October 2009
Source: Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Mpumalanga Provincial Government (http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za/dedp/index.asp)
