The community of Mbongolwane were overjoyed as the Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Malusi Gigaba today handed over the much needed irrigation equipment, a tractor and wheelbarrows to the community.
Minister Gigaba handed over the irrigation equipment to the Sonqoba Aids Programme Trust, a development initiative of the Mbongolwane community to ensure their sustainability and assist those who are less fortune within the community.
The Sonqoba Aids Programme Trust was established in January 2002 as an HIV and Aids support programme operating at Mbongolwane Reservein Ntuli Tribal Authority, which falls under uMlalazi Local Municipality of uThungulu District Municipality.
The Programme is currently a home for all community based projects providing services to local and poor communities. The trust key programmes include; volunteering on door to door visits to HIV and Aids infected and affected households; poverty alleviation type of project such as brick and block making, small scale farming, sewing and baking.
The income generated through the Programme is used for food supply to the take care of the HIV and Aids orphans; feeding those who are infected and affected by HIV and Aids; buying school uniforms and paying for learners school fees.
Minister Gigaba together with representatives of the National Development Agency (NDA) and the uThungulu District Municipality handed over a tractor, a trailer, a soil turner, a tractor plough, a brick making machine and wheelbarrows.
Minister Gigaba urged the community to safeguard the equipment to ensure that they continue to benefit the future generation.
"We are here to celebrate the youth, women, and the community at large who made this day possible. We have seen all the equipment and they should be utilised to empower the community and the future generation," said the Minister.
"We must continue to support community initiatives like these. Let us look after the equipment. We must all work together to ensure that the benefits of this equipment do not only accrue to the current generation but to the future prosperity of our children," he added.
The NDA Regional Manager, Ms Thamo Mzobe commended the community for starting the Programme and inspiring other communities to follow in their footsteps.
"Many initiatives like this start with clear focus on development but due to lack of communication are prone to faltering because of individual interests. Let us sit down and work together as the community to make the project a success," said Ms Mzobe.
Deputy Mayor of uThungulu Municipality, Mr Thulani Mashaba assured the community of the municipality continued support. "I applaud the Sonqoba trustees for this initiative because it is helping the community with much needed jobs and assists the HIV and Aids orphans and affected households. Please keep it up," said Mr Mashaba.
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Minister Malusi Gigaba hands over brick making equipment and a tractor to the Mbongolwane community
