On Tuesday, 18 July 2017, Overstrand Executive Mayor, Ald Rudolph Smith accompanied by mayoral committee members Cllrs Elnora Gillion and Arnie Africa, set the pace in Overstrand’s contribution to the Mandela Day Campaign by paying a visit to the Health and Welfare Centre in Hawston.
The event afforded the opportunity for the facility’s Chairperson, Wally Moosa, to take the Mayor and his party on a guided tour of the premises that involved a walk through the wards, kitchen, laundry and an inspection of its well-kept sustainable vegetable and herb garden. During the stay the mayor engaged with a number of in-care patients and staff before lending a hand in dishing out 67 cups of soup and bread to a queue of children who stood patiently in line waiting their turn.
While there, Mayor Smith also took the time to handover a wheelchair that Centre Manager, George Kinnear said would do much to assist with the service offering they provide to the community.
Other activities included sprucing up the building with kids of the Hawston Library School Holiday Programme washing its windows; helped along by a group of Overstrand fire fighters who also took turns at washing dishes and sweeping the hall ways.
Speaking at the Mandela Day commemoration, the mayor said, “The work carried out at facilities like this has a meaningful impact on our communities and showcases the spirit of social responsibility espoused so well by the late Tata Madiba.”
“This has been a very moving and emotional experience and I applaud the centre and its staff for the efforts and wonderful work that they do,” stated the mayor.
While the Mayor commerated Mandela Day in Hawston, other councillors around Overstrand also did their bit to honour the legacy of Madiba. Ward 5 councillor Valerie Phungu-phungu gathered young children in Zwelihle and together cleaned a play park in the area, she also used the moment to educate them on how to take care of their environment. Valerie further visited the Siyazama Old Care Center where she treated the elderly to a hearty lunch of soup.
At another event, members of the Hermanus Division of the Overstrand Fire and Rescue Services put in some hard work too; cleaning and preparing soup for children at Khanya Educare Center in Zwelihle.
Staying in Zwelihle, Cllr Connie Tafu-Nwonkwo helped and donated food and pampers to children at Ikhaya Lezibusiso.
In Kleinmond, ward 10 Cllr Fanie Krige collaborated with the KBRC to paint a container and teach youngsters to propagate seed at the Mandela Circular Random Harvest gardening project at Mthimkhulu Village. Ward 10 Cllr Grant Cohen and a group of volunteers in turn assisted staff at the Kleinmond Animal Welfare Society and Child Welfare offices.