and the poorest family in Mount Fletcher
16 April 2007
It was a dream come true for a 107 year old granny, Johanna Mabelesi, the
eldest person in Mount Fletcher and arguably in the former Transkei when
Minister of Correctional Services Ngconde Balfour paid her a surprise visit to
celebrate her birthday.
Ms Mabelesi was born on 16 January 1896 in Nxura, Mount Fletcher and has
lived there since birth.
Minister Balfour's visit to Ms Mabelesi and the poorest family of Nxura is
part of the government's Imbizo Focus Week programme from 12 to 17 April
2007.
She could not hold back her tears when Minister Balfour arrived unexpectedly
at her home bringing her birthday presents ranging from a paraffin heater, two
new mattresses, blankets and a food hamper to a variety of vegetables grown
from the local correctional centre.
"I feel very young once again and cannot believe that at this age I would
get the opportunity to be visited by a Minister," she said as she sobbed trying
to hold back her tears.
When asked by the Minister how she survives at that old age, she responded
that "though I have difficulty in walking, the rough rural life has however
made me very strong." She claims to have been to a doctor only twice in her old
age.
Minister Balfour who was visibly touched by Ms Mabelesi's condition said,
"The Department of Correctional Services was touched by her plight and will
continue to support her with vegetables and other food products produced from
vegetable gardens and farming projects in correctional centres. This is our
contribution as the Department to poverty alleviation."
Minister Balfour also visited the poorest family in Nxura where he also
donated food and vegetables produced from correctional centres to the family of
seven orphans who are looked after by an elderly grandmother. The family is
also being supported by the Department of Correctional Services as part of its
poverty alleviation programme.
Later the Minister addressed an imbizo attended by more than 2 000 people at
the local stadium. During his address, he stressed the importance of forging
partnerships between the communities and the law enforcement agencies to
sustain the low levels of crime and stability in the area that was once
engulfed by violent clashes between locals and Basotho farmers as a result of
cross border stock theft and raids.
Minister Balfour wraps up his imbizo programme tomorrow, 17 April 2007, when
he visits Ngqeleni to hand over a vegetable garden cultivated by offenders to
the Ngqeleni Orphanage. The orphanage which has been adopted by the Department
is also being renovated and refurbished by the offenders as part of the
Department's social reintegration and rehabilitation programme.
For enquiries contact:
Luphumzo Kebeni
Cell: 082 453 2244
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
16 April 2007
