24 June 2004

By Clifford Mogotsi

The poor residents of Swanieville and Rietvallei have been given a fighting chance against this year's winter by resourceful schoolchildren from Azaadville Muslim School.

The youngsters - in conjunction with Crescent of Hope, a national welfare organisation - donated 800 blankets and food parcels to unemployed people in Mogale City.

This year R35 000 was collected by the children and donated from their own pockets.

Faheem Kaka, a student representative, said this year's collection was double that of last year. He hoped that it would be "a means of creating love and understanding between our communities".

Kaka told Swanieville residents: "An integral part of our faith is that giving and caring for homeless, less-fortunate people is an act of warship."

Boyce Maneli, a Mogale City portfolio member who is also responsible for Ward 16 in Swanieville, and Sam Banyini, the councillor for Ward 22, assigned people to register the names and addresses of the poor in their wards.

"Wherever there is free food the number of indigents escalate, and we are so grateful to the Azaadville Muslim School for the donations, said an excited Maneli.

The council's speaker, Farouk Omar Bhayat, and his personal assistant, Joe Mpye, were there to assist.

The school's principal, Ebrahim Seedat, said it was his duty to teach children about the upliftment of other people.

"Our school is a religious institution where learners are taught how to share and give. It is our responsibility to give what we have," Seedat said.

Themba Langa, a top lawyer who is at the helm of Langa Attorneys, followed the trend when he donated blankets to the poorest learners at Thembile Primary School in Kagiso.

But only 15 learners received blankets. According to Mpumelelo Simons, a teacher, many poor children attend the school.

"Langa is assisting our school in alleviating poverty and we are grateful that this came at the right time of winter, she said.

Parents were invited to receive the donation.

Thembise Mphithi - an unemployed 42-year-old who has two children in the school, Lunga, 16, and Nompulelo, 13 - was happy to receive the blankets.

"I also have two other young children, Uwakheni and Sewuisiwe, I am grateful to what Mr Langa has done for my children."

Mphithi earns a living washing and ironing clothes. Langa, who went to school in Kagiso, said he wanted to "provide a measure of comfort and warmth to learners from acute conditions of poverty".