Welcome boost for Mulamula

Tivani Mashamba-Thompson became the toast of the village of Mulamula when she initiated a project that has changed the community.

The community where she was born celebrated the completion of the first phase of the multi-purpose education centre that she has started to assist the community that raised her.

A fortnight ago, 16 pupils from a British school, Seven Oaks, came to celebrate with the South African rural community the completion of the first phase of the multi-million-rand  project. They have completed a crèche and the the main building, which comprises a library, theatre and medical centre.

The idea came when Tivani and her husband, Rowan, visited the village in 2011. “My wife realized that nothing had changed at the village after she had seen a computer for the first time when she went to university,” said Thompson. The two decided on changing the village and sold the idea to the school.

“Seven Oaks' children raised thousands of rands from their own pockets and through fundraising to have the project done as part of their social responsibility,” said Rowan.

Limpopo social development MEC Joyce Mashamba lauded the British pupils for what they have done for the community. She said her department would make sure that what they had started was self-sustaining.

Tivani said the children were from wealthy families and they used their money to come to Mulamula. “They had a fundraising campaign that included a Christmas Fair during which they sold some stuff such as toys, hats and T-shirts,” she said. They also had a costume show.

The chairman of the Mulamula project, Mr  Jimmy Maluleke, thanked Tivani "for not forgetting her roots."

News - Date: 29 August 2014

Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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