A call to support the needy

A local businessman and officers from the Khayelitsha police station brought smiles to 102 children from Yizani Sakheni Educare Centre, in Site B, Khayelitsha, when they donated toiletries on Friday May 4.

The donation is aimed at reducing the burden faced by the centre.

Khayelitsha cluster commander, Captain Ntandazo Mncanca, said they decided to adopt the centre to assist it to deal with some of its challenges. He said they also wanted to show the community that the police cared and had the best interest of the community in their collective hearts.

Captain Mncanca conceded that the gesture was a drop in the ocean, but at least for a week or two they won’t have to worry about toiletries and other stuff.

Captain Mncanca said ECDs played a vital role in the development of children and needed all the support they could get. He urged other local businesses to adopt community based organisations and centres.

He also appealed to the community to assist. “We want to make a meaningful impact in the lives of these children. To see the smiles on their faces alone warms my heart,” said Captain Mncanca. “For me personally, this is a very good thing to have happened to children. Children always feel very happy to get something new. We value education and are grateful to the centre for allowing us the opportunity to bless these children.”

Nomthunzi Mahlasela, centre principal, said most children’s parents were unemployed, and the donation meant a lot to them.

She described crime in the area as one of their main challenges.

She said they had been robbed many times. “I am very happy and excited about the donation. This means a lot to these children,” she said.