Correctional Services, in partnership with PhalaPhala FM, recently presented a four-roomed house to the Takalani Children’s Home. The presentation was part of the two organisations’ Mandela Day celebrations.

The area manager of correctional services, Mr Freddy Mashamba, said that poverty was like a curse that degraded a person. “Poor people can easily resort to unacceptable behaviour in an effort to address this problem,” he added. According to him, they wanted to give disadvantaged children the best opportunities to perform well in life and not to be part of the “ever-increasing statistics of criminals who are forced into crime by circumstances”.

Mr Freddy Sadiki of PhalaPhala FM added that communities should assist each other. He mentioned that, in some areas, people were throwing away food, while some neighbours were going to bed hungry. “Let us be humane. We are all from Africa and we are known for ubuntu. We cannot pretend as if we see nothing while children suffer because they have lost their parents. Let us stand up and do something for the development of our community,” he said.

Mr Robbert Liboyi of Takalani Children’s Home expressed the school’s gratitude for all the gifts which came from different institutions. “It is heartwarming to see that there still are people in this world who love us and are willing to demonstrate their love by showering our children with gifts.”