Social development minister Lindiwe Zulu led the hand-over of much-needed facilities aimed at improving lives in the Duncan Village and Ncera communities on Friday.
The Ihlumelo Foundation received a mobile facility which has two office spaces with furniture, reception and waiting areas, and two rooms for storage. It is fenced and has a tap.
Ncera received an information centre, borehole, library, water storage tanks and a solar-powered water pump, which will benefit neighbouring villages, and a cash injection of more than R90 000.
The department was able to implement these projects with the involvement of various stakeholders.
Foundation founder Sikholwethu Msutwana said the mobile office facility was in the heart of the township.
Previously they had used Ebenezer Majombozi High School’s premises which were not close to their target group.
“We have been working with the department since 2014,” he said.
“With the space we have, we will be more visible to the community.
“With the yard space we have we will be also doing gardening and a tap is also nearby.
“The foundation provides a safe, stimulating environment for pupils after school while their parents are still at work.
“The pupils are assisted with homework, get support with school projects and are provided a meal before going home.”
Msutwana said they also rendered edutainment and prevention programmes focusing on alcohol and drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence.
Ncera information resource centre deputy chair Mzimkhulu Koyo said: “The library will improve our children’s knowledge and their use of digital tools because in the world of today they need that.
“We learnt a lot from the global pandemic and it inspired us to help bring technology to rural areas.”
Koyo said their Isithembiso agricultural project was aimed at promoting the local economy and food sustainability.
“There will also be a nursery that will sell plants for households to have their own gardens.
“Places such as the Gonubie and Amalinda nurseries are far from us.
“The department plays a vital role in our community and we are looking after our information resource centre to ensure that it is not left vulnerable to vandals and we will also be seeking donations to help us get security guards.”
The metro is also known as the boxing mecca, and BCM mayor Princess Faku donated a boxing ring and accessories to the Ncera community to keep the sport alive.
Zulu said Friday marked yet another important chapter in the lives of Eastern Cape residents and the people of BCM.
“The two projects may be kilometres apart, but what is common is that they emphasise the importance of education for our young children,” she said.
“Education is one of the important sectors for the socioeconomic development of our country.
“I hope the Ncera information resource centre will provide another opportunity for children of this area and surrounding villages to read books and have more knowledge and they will also learn reading is fun.”
She said the collaboration with partners who had contributed to the success of the programmes would help ensure children realise their full potential and become capable of advancing the country’s vision of building a united SA.
“Certain parts of the country are already struggling with multiple basic services, including, access to water.
“To address this problem, the department is handing over [the projects] to Ncera, courtesy of our partner, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
“We appreciate the donation from the church, as some of the cornerstones of our struggle, freedom, and democracy are vested in the church as a unifier, and one of the most important institutions which give hope to the hopeless.”
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