NELSON MANDELA MONTH CELEBRATED ACROSS THE CHDM
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead” (Nelson Mandela on the 90th birthday celebration of Walter Sisulu, 2002”
On the 20th July 2018 Chris Hani District Municipality forever changed the lives of 6 destitute families for the better, as it handed over brand new houses as part of the Mandela Day commemorations, under the theme “Be the Legacy”.
Heeding the call to spend 67 minutes doing good for the benefit of the less fortunate Chris Hani District Municipality Executive Mayor Councillor Koliswa Vimbayo together with the Mayoral Committee travelled to all six local municipalities to handover brand new fully furnished houses to the less fortunate families.
The beneficiaries, who were selected with the assistance of local municipalities across the district, included, Ms Angelina Pietersen who previously resided in a dilapidated shack with her daughter and seven grandchildren in Middelburg. She could not hold back tears as remarked “I cannot contain my excitement as for the first time in my life I will be sleeping in a proper house that has brand new furniture, I am forever grateful to Chris Hani District Municipality for this”.
Handing over a house to a 87 years Miss Nontobeko Mkhosi, The Executive Mayor Cllr Kholiswa Vimbayo indicated that “It is pleasing to the district to hand-over a house to someone who is most deserving, both in terms of the age of the beneficiary and due consideration of the conditions under which one lived in”. The old lady stayed in a dilapidated shack. Executive Mayor applauded Emalahleni LM together with the CHDM Housing Unit for being able to select appropriately.
The municipality spent a total of R1, 079 million on the construction of the houses, furniture and groceries that were handed over on the day.
Other house beneficiaries are: Mr Monwabisi Noveve 86 year old from Intsika Yethu LM, Miss Nokuzola Bodliwe 36 year old from Engcobo LM, Miss Ntobeko Edith Mkhosi 87 year old from Rhodana Village Emalahleni LM, Miss Vuyelwa Gete Langa 57 year old from Sterkstroom, Enoch Mgijima LM, Mrs Nomathemba Yvonne Mbana 58 year old from Mlungisi Township, Enoch Mgijima LM.
This act of goodwill not only befell the less fortunate families, but also saw an old age home in Midros under Inxuba Yethemba local municipality receiving a 5000 litre water tank. Receiving the water tank on behalf of the home, was centre’s board member Frans de De Klerk who said “we are forever grateful for the tank from CHDM, it will assist us immensely as Middelburg is one of the drought stricken areas”.
Executive Mayor Vimbayo encourages CHDM employees and councillors to continue participating in activities that seek to promote the wellbeing of others and thus live Nelson Mandela’s legacy.