Thirty-three orphans in the Vhembe district will benefit from the money donated to the Soutpansberg Community Development Organisation by a giant publishing company, Shuter & Shooter. The R25 981,10 donation took place at Iyani Bible School, Ngovhela village near Sibasa, on Thursday last week.

Soutpansberg Community Development Organisation is a non-profit body and the brainchild of the Reformed Church of South Africa and was started in 1991. Since its inception, the organization has built 75 houses to the homeless in Vhembe. It has also initiated poverty alleviation projects in several villages, which include Tshifudi Vegetable Garden, Tshiungani Bakery, Mashamba Brickyard and Tshixwadza Orchard. The organization works with the Departments of Education, Health and Social Development and local home-based care oranisations in their projects. Their projects also include drilling for water for indigent communities in Vhembe. They are presently looking after 33 orphans whose parents died as a result of HIV/Aids in Vhembe.

Themba Msimang, Shuter & Shooter’s regional manager, said his company promised the Soutpansberg Community Development Organisation that they would donate 10 cents from every book sold from March 1, 2005, to February 28, 2006, as part of the company’s social responsibility programme.

“Today we are fulfilling our promise because it is our policy to pay back to the public. We hope our partnership will continue to bear fruits in the struggle against AIDS and illiteracy. Our aim is to improve the lives of indigent community members as they are playing a major role in the development of our business…”

Msimang challenged other businesses to play a leading role in the development of the communities they serve.

“We are confident that our donation will encourage other businesses to put more effort into community development. The people on the ground need our assistance in terms of nation building and poverty alleviation…”

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the Soutpansberg Community Development Organization, Mercy Ramabulana said the money will be used to finance the education of the 33 orphans. She passed her heartfelt gratitude to Shuter & Shooter for coming to her organization’s rescue in their time of need.

Community members who would like to know more about the Soutpansberg Community Development Organization or to make donations can call 015 963 1402.