PHAKE – To conclude Mandela Month, Mpumalanga MEC of the department co-operative governance and traditional affairs (COGHSTA), Speedy Mashilo, joined forces with DR. JS Moroka municipality mayor, Nomsa Mtsweni to embark on a philanthropic journey through various villages in the municipality, each contributing their 67 minutes in honour of the late Nelson Mandela.
Their philanthropic activities, carried out on July 29, 2024, commenced with the generous donation of agricultural produce and the planting of vegetable seedlings at MmuWaRona CW Cooperative. Subsequently, they proceeded to Libangeni to participate in the repair of potholes, followed by a visit to the Tamasana Disability Centre at Egodeni Care Centre, where they graciously provided mattresses and groceries to the residents.
Community work programme (CWP) participants extended their support by aiding in the painting of the center.
Moepi Mokwana (46), one of the five individuals involved in the MmuWaRona Cooperative established in 2017, which currently spans 7 hectares, expressed jubilation when the MEC pledged to provide machinery to aid in their expansion.
Moepi, a former CWP participant, articulated their aspirations, stating, “We are aiming to cultivate 15 hectares, at which point we anticipate reaping the rewards of our efforts. Currently, the proceeds from our sales are reinvested into expanding our land. We are elated that the department has shown willingness to support us and offer guidance.”
The MmuWaRona Cooperative exclusively grows vegetables such as cabbage, butternut, spinach, and tomatoes, selling their produce to street vendors while actively seeking opportunities to penetrate the formal market sector.
“Individuals should not underestimate the potential of agriculture or any other entrepreneurial venture. I urge the youth to embark on business endeavors, be it selling fat cakes or engaging in farming, as we are faced with alarming rates of unemployment and require a surge in black entrepreneurship,” concluded Moepi.
MEC Mashilo pledged to donate additional equipment to facilitate the expansion of the field, enabling the cultivation of a wider variety of crops.
“When we examine successful farms owned by white individuals, it is often the labour of black individuals that sustains these operations. I am pleased that this group has taken the initiative to empower themselves, and we, as the department, are committed to aiding them in achieving their objectives and generating employment opportunities in the process. We will provide equipment to support their expansion so that they can supply schools, in addition to street vendors,” stated Mashilo.
Lena Masango (65), the manager of the Egodeni Stimulation Centre, expressed the center’s needs and gratitude for the officials’ visit.
“The condition of the road we utilize hampers our mobility, hindering ambulance access during emergencies. Our washing machine is in disrepair, and our borehole is nonfunctional. If the MEC could address these issues, we would greatly benefit,” Masango conveyed.
She concluded by expressing her trust in the MEC’s commitment to fulfilling his promises.
MEC Mashilo assured assistance to the center, noting that the conclusion of Mandela Month highlighted the center’s impactful initiatives. He emphasized the importance of the center diversifying its funding sources beyond social development grants and pledged to aid in securing donors.
“I am delighted to have visited this establishment and witnessed the residents’ industriousness. We are dedicated to supporting the center and are pleased with the municipality’s proactive approach to pothole repair, as we await pavement construction, a task that is indeed enduring,” concluded Mashilo.
In a collaborative effort between the department and the municipality, seedlings were donated to the cooperative, potholes were patched, and food parcels, blankets, and mattresses were provided to the Stimulation Centre.
