of joint business initiatives to support Correctional Services in breaking the
cycle of crime
17 October 2007
On 18 October 2007, Bosasa and a number of Business Community Members across
South Africa will be donating computers, home entertainment equipment, beds,
and kitchen appliances to Umzomtsha Children's home in Ngqeleni. The donations
are presented as part of showcasing business community partnerships during the
Corrections Week and they come as response to a call made by Minister Ngconde
Balfour to the business community to assist government deal with the cycle of
crime.
Nontsikelelo Jolingana, Eastern Cape Regional Commissioner for Correctional
Services explains that "Minister Balfour announced in May 2007, during the
Government Imbizo Focus Week, he is adopting Umzomtsha Children's home in
Ngqeleni as part of supporting needy children who may be tempted to commit
crime for survival".
Jolingana says, at the time, Minister Balfour called on the business
community to heed the plight of needy children and offenders, explaining that
the orphanage was operating without sufficient funds and was getting
dilapidated. He called on the business community, community members and other
social partners to lend a hand in support of the well-being of the children in
the orphanage as means of breaking the cycle of crime.
Heeding the call made by the Minister at the beginning of the year, Bosasa,
one of the service providers commissioned by Correctional Services for Security
Technology Services and full facilities management, mobilised the support of
business members across the country for making contributions towards
resuscitating the orphanage.
To date, Bosasa has facilitated for the following donations:
* 62 Beds, 100 blankets, 124 mattresses from Bosasa
* two LCD screens from Norbain
* three 72cm televisions
* five DVD players and two water urns from KLM in Gauteng
* two DVD players from Hoxes
* microwave ovens from Kenmare Stationers
* 10 computers from Pinacle computers
* two printers (colour) from Canon
* one chest freezer from Nutrional Food Suppliers
* stove (four-burner with oven) from Fogel
* paint from Plascon for the entire place
* Data Centrix donated R5 000 in cash
Noni Xengani, who is the manager of the children's home, says "the centre
was started by an ordinary community member Ms Dlulane in 1997. She started by
renting out some premises from the neighbourhood inspired by a passion to care
for the needy until she secured sponsorships for land and property."
Xengani says in 1995 the Department of Social Development and Umtata Round
Table No.4, a fund raising organisation in Umtata, mobilised companies like
South African Breweries, Transfun, Micro Projects and others who raised funds
for building the structures for the centre.
Through the minimal support from government subsidies, the centre admits
children under the age of 18 who are referred by social workers with challenges
such as being orphaned, abused, abandoned or coming from broken families.
Xengani explains that the children are supposed to stay under the care of the
centre for a period of two years whilst the management of the centre and the
Department of Social Development are facilitating for their placement into
foster homes.
Xengani says it is, however, often difficult for them to strictly abide by
the rule of sheltering the children for only two years and they cannot chase
them away when they reach 18 years of age, thus the difficulty in maintaining
them.
Xengani explains how humbled and touched she is by the gesture of
Correctional Services who has assisted in mobilising funds from the business
sector to address their plight.
Enquiries:
Zukisa Nduneni
Cell: 073 920 1847
Cell: 079 495 1221
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services, Eastern Cape Provincial
Government
17 October 2007
Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za/)
