A German delegation, comprised of bishops and members of the Bad Vilbel Parish Church, visited the Makhado Municipality on Tuesday, with a proposal of establishing a hospice centre at Mashamba village to take care of people living with HIV/Aids.

Mashamba´s Parish Church has been in a partnership with the German-based Bad Vilbel Parish Church for 30 years.

According to the secretary of the partnership committee, Mrs Tintswalo Neluvhola, the initiative comes after the church realised that people who are suffering from HIV/Aids and related diseases, as well as children who are left alone after their parents have passed away, need to be taken good care of.

"The church cannot keep quiet and sit with its arms folded when the sick are suffering. The primary aim of the church is to assist people living with diseases, from diagnosis until death, but with a predominant emphasis on living positively and with dignity," said Neluvhola.

She further emphasized that the proposed centre will provide shelter for orphans and those who are vulnerable to all different types of abuse.

Makhado Municipality Mayor Cllr Luruli welcomed the initiative. She said the municipality supported church organisations.