Mutton curry and bread donated in Eldos

 The Lady in Pink Foundation were blessed on Sunday, 25 July with 120 tubs of mutton curries and bread which was donated by The Voice of Justice Foundation. 120 young and young at heart were blessed with a hot meal that they don’t always get to eat. 

 

Voice of Justice Team with Lady in Pink Foundation in Eldos

Everyone who received a meal walked away with a smile that they were going to enjoy a tasty meal

 

Speaking to Yusuf Seedat, from the Voice of Justice he explained that the organisation started by a team of current and former university students who got together and said they aim towards making a change for South Africa. 

 

“We have to help various justice issues and uplift those around us. A lot of people don’t realize that prior to covid there has always been a pandemic called poverty and we felt if basically help elevate poverty it be uplifting ourselves and others,” Seedat explained. 

 

He further added that they reached out to people who assisted them with areas in need and a few were Eldorado Park and Soweto. They are a small foundation and aim to grow.

 

They donated tubs of mutton and bread as well to Soweto, Lawley, and Maraisburg.

 

Lady in Pink Ambassador Tasneem Morgan said: “Voice of Justice assisted in donating a plate to those who are in need as we know there are difficult times for everybody around the world and with the pandemic many people are struggling to make ends meet and we are really grateful that they reached to sponsor the food and give out to our community.”

Kids fed in Soweto. Photo: Supplied

Children smiling after receiving a hot meal. Photo: Supplied

Eldos says ‘No’ to looting

The community of Eldorado Park stood together since the start of the looting and stuck to their guns by saying #NoToLootinginEldos.

They came out in numbers to guard their major and small stores at the various shopping centers, as well as spaza shops and roads.

 

Looters were unable to enter Eldos as it was heavily guarded by the community. Eldos Times spoke to a few community members, and they commended Eldos residents. Here are a few comments from proud community members, and those from surrounding areas.

Soweto Parliamentarian, Nhlanhla Lux, who is the man behind the guarding and security of Maponya Mall in Soweto, alongside community members proudly spoke about the Eldos community and the amazing work they did to unite as a community to block the looters.

He said: “It is really good that Eldos managed to defend its community against the looters because that is the sign! They managed to take their power back from the people they trusted, being local government and law enforcement. For Eldorado Park to have stood up it shows hope. If they could defeat a massive enemy, they can defeat the drugs, crime (small and big), and also the idle youth. The community can come together to be more productive by building sports grounds such as soccer, cricket and many other facilities including a library and have Wi-Fi hotspots to help the community.”

Dwaine Ponsonby, member of the Patriotic Alliance said: “We are super proud as the community of Eldorado Park for standing up against the looting that hit our country so badly. Our community is now able to see to basics and ensure that their families are fed, clothed and without any inconvenience. We saved our local economy and safeguarded much needed infrastructure from the hands of these lawless thugs. We will further maximize visibility and capacity in order to maintain our current stance in saying ‘no to looting and crime.”

In discussion with Cheryl Pillay, LDAC chairperson, she mentioned: “As a community leader in Eldos, for me it is such a proud moment to say our community united to prevent the looting. I want to salute everyone who came out to ensure we were safe, especially with regard to the emergencies related to Covid-19, and also to those who assisted the sick. I feel really humbled and proud to say I am from Eldorado Park.’’

Ernestean Keet an enthusiastic member of the Patriotic Alliance said: “Let me start by saying that I am extremely proud to be part of the Community of Eldorado Park. Shoprite Freedom Park was under siege and members of the Patriotic Alliance gathered at Shoprite and guarded the center. The community then joined in and stood together to guard all shopping centers in Eldorado Park. It is amazing to see and especially so because life has gone back to normal. The community are however still alert, available and on guard for our Eldos.”

Cheslin Ivor Gibbs added: “When we got the news that the unrest and looting is spreading to parts of Gauteng, we were alerted immediately about the looting in Freedom Park. We quickly mobilized it on all our community chat groups to inform the community that the looters are not allowed entry into Eldorado Park.  The community came out in their numbers to make sure that no looting takes place in our area. We were a force to be reckoned with Eldos has never seen a community come together with such pride and dignity.”

Marcell Daniels commented: “I was overwhelmed by the response of the community members and its leaders who stood together as one to ensure that Eldorado Park and the businesses within the community were not affected by the looting that took place. Eldorado Park which is always in the media with a lot of negative publicity, stood tall and united against looting. I am certain that the effects of the 2017 looting really changed the mindset of the leaders and hence we took a stand against it. As the Co-Founder of The Caitlin Douman Foundation, I am happy that the decision to make Eldorado Park the home for the foundation was not in vain.”

Charis Pretorius said: “Eldorado Park has for the longest time been perceived as a place where only gangsters, drug dealers and criminals reside. With the Free Zuma protests in KZN and Gauteng, the residents of Eldorado Park showed the flip side of the coin, and it was commendable and heart-warming to see that we can do more when we stand together.”

Earl Davids explained: “Eldorado Park, always being the stepchild in Gauteng, recently demonstrated that we are more than just that and we have also proven that we are more than what the media portrays us to be. This is encompassed in a hashtag close to my heart because everyone portrayed it.” #ThisIsMyEldos

Prayer hosted in Soweto and Eldos

Unrest in Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal resulted in chaotic lootings which led to death, arrests, and major financial blow for business owners. 

The unrest began after former Jacob Zuma supporters demanded his release. 

Zuma handed himself over to the police after a court ruling. 

The lootings of malls and other business resulted in President Cyril Ramaphosa bringing in thousands of soldiers to contain the unrests. 

Both SAPS and SANDF are still on high alert in both provinces.Bishop Judy Malaza Monametsi and Pastor Niko Sithole met with congregations, community members and pastors to pray for peace. The prayer, which was hosted in Glen Ridge, Protea Glen on the 18 July by the religious leaders and the community of Soweto.

A walk about prayer was conducted in an attempt to restore peace after the violent acts of criminality that hit the two provinces. 

Bishop Monametsi said the purpose of the gathering was to prayer for peace. 

The Bishop said the bible promotes peace and that nothing can be achieved without prayer. 

“Looking at the atrocities we are facing, our country is going through season of turmoil. We held this prayer gathering because when we prayer and ask God and he answers,” she said

While in Eldorado Park at 3pm a call to pray was hosted at the Shoprite in Ext 5. 

Different denominations United to pray thus heading the presidents call for a National Day of Prayer for our country. 

“A lot for corporate prayer led by local pastors and then followed a carcade that led to the Main Road where everyone got out of their cars and prayed for 20mins,” explained Dwaine Ponsonby of Patriotic Alliance.

67 minutes celebrated in Eldos

Different organisations and people choose to make a difference within their community by doing their bit of 67 minutes on Mandela Day which falls each year on the later former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela well known as Tata Madiba birthday.

Despite the country being currently on Adjusted Level 4 lockdown due to the current Covid -19 pandemic, it did not stop community warriors from making a difference by giving back within the community and help those in dire need of basic necessities, medication, food, and many other things, this is inclusive of adults and children who were blessed to have a hot meal which they do not get to eat on a daily basis.

 

The Lady in Pink Foundation based in Eldorado Park celebrated 67 minutes by donating 100 blankets, 100 sanitary pads packs and 200 loafs of bread to the underprivileged. 

 

The children who were blessed with these amazing gifts come from the Greater Eldorado Park and Greater Kliptown areas. Organisations who brought their children were Sizwe Feeding Scheme, Ignite Girls and MB Foundation. Walking through the gate, girls were smiling with joy as they thanked the founders, Christopher and Gazelle Booysen for their wonderful assistance and always making a huge difference within the community. 

Chris and Gazelle thanked Spiritual Chords for their generous donations of the blankets, breads and sanitary pads. 

In separate news, Spiritual Chords Foundation (SCF) also donated more than 20 blanket packs to teenage girls from Madressa Hayats Saleehat who stay at the school as borders. Appa Amina Kaldien who was so grateful that SCF donated these blankets packs as she explained this would help her learners stay warm as they come from underprivileged backgrounds and the girls are studying to become Alima’s. 

Looting turns to acts of criminality

South Africans and people across the globe were taken by shock when former president Jacob Zuma’s followers took to the streets in a march on Sunday 11 July to 15 July under #FreeJacobZuma movement, barricading many roads with tyres and rocks and then targeting Malls and shops in Gauteng and KZN by looting, items such as food, furniture, cellphones, money from ATMs which were broken open, while businesses were left in a state of ruin. 

Many media personnel were wearing a hard helmet and bullet proof vest to protect themselves while they risked their lives to give the nation the news that is accurate.  Some media reporters were harmed and injured while some had their work and personal belongings ripped off them in an unruly manner.

 

Malls and spaza shops were looted to such an extent that many shops were set alight while people were seen walking and some running freely with many goods all excited, they have got something for free. 

 

SAPS POP Unit, and JMPD POP Unit were on the ground doing their utmost best to stop the looters from looting but eventually the President Cyril Ramaphosa had to bring in the South National Defense Force to assist and help with the manpower to stop the looters who also were carrying live round bullets and guns. 

Malls in Soweto that were targeted were Dobsonville Mall, Protea Glen Mall, Protea Gardens, Dube Mall, Jabulani Mall, Diepkloof Mall and with the help of Pimville Community and Soweto Parliament member Nhlanhla Lux and others, the barbaric looters were not able to touch Maponya Mall, the largest mall in Soweto.

 

Protea Mall was set alight on Tuesday, 13 July by looters who did not care about their family and friends who have lost their jobs. Retail workers from many different stores across Gauteng and KZN are left stranded unsure if they will be paid or not and are their jobs secured again or not.

 

Protea Glen Mall Store Incredible Money, store manager Pitso Zikalala who was left in utter disgust looking at his store explained that the looting could possibly be where retail workers will unfortunately lose their jobs. 

 

“It’s truly messed up, I’m not really sure what is going to happen but one thing for sure that I know is livelihoods will be badly affected. Three of our shops located in Soweto have looted and we will have to deal with 200 employees who could possibly lose their jobs,” said Zikalala 

 

He added that their company being a pawn business, it is dealing with loaning of money who bring in valuable items which they have left with the company. 

 

He felt like he was losing hope because he was not sure how they were going to find solutions to resolving their loose of customers goods and their staff matter as many of the staff are bread winners of their homes.

 

Community members eventually came together after looters destroyed everything to clean up the malls which were left unrecognizable in hope that rebuilding of them begins soon, and many can have jobs again.

Mandela Day well spent in Soweto

Different organisations and people choose to make a difference within their community by doing their bit of 67 minutes on Mandela Day which falls each year on the later former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela well known as Tata Madiba birthday.

Despite the country being currently on Adjusted Level 4 lockdown due to the current Covid -19 pandemic, it did not stop community warriors from making a difference by giving back within the community and help those in dire need of basic necessities, medication, food, and many other things, this is inclusive of adults and children who were blessed to have a hot meal which they do not get to eat on a daily basis.

 

NGOs donates in Soweto:

The Khasi Hero Foundation based in Soweto who has been blessing many people with special gifts had blessed 97 elderly people from disadvantage homes in Soweto with a warm blanket, vegetables, and food hampers. 

 

While in Naledi about 200 children were fed a hot meal by Ubhule Bomusa Foundation. Spiritual Chords had donated a stove, Chef with compassion donated the soups, One Moment Foundation donated the vegetables, and Khuluma Foundation handed out sanitary pads for girls from age of 9 and upwards.

 

 

Suspect nabbed by police

 

A joint operation in Dobsonville which saw cops and the PSS members was a success. 

The operation which took place on 19 July led to the recovery of a vehicle that was suspected to have been involved in terrorizing the community in Braamfischer.

When law enforcement arrived on scene, they  discovered that they was more than the tip they received. 

A search led to the recovery  of stolen property which included a courier vehicle, a firearm with ammunition and a jam machine which they used to block cars from locking.

 

One suspect was arrested and appeared in court recently. He is expected to appear in court for a formal bail application soon. 

 

“The suspect was charged with possession of stolen property, unlicensed firearm and ammunition,” said Constable Vusi Thokwan, Dobsonsville SAPS spokesperson.

New born baby found in bin

Residents of Protea Glen, Ext 16, Phase 2 were left in dismay on Tuesday, 20 July. This came after a community member discover a new born baby attached with the  umbilical cord. The baby was found wrapped in a towel. The body was discovered in a dustbin which were ready for collection by the Pikitup.

The police were alerted, an ambulance which was passing was flagged. The paramedics declared the baby deceased. 

Police further took a statement from the dustbin owner , Noluthando Twani.  

Twani said that her tenant had taken out the dustbin at 7am and around 9:50am her son went to throw some waste in the bin and was surprised by neighbours who were standing on the street coming to open her dustbin that had the baby inside

She explained that when she opened the bin she was in total shock to find a new born baby inside the bin. 

Police are currently investigating an inquest docket.

Monique Badenhorst feeds the destitute on her birthday

The founder of MB Foundation, Monique Badenhorst celebrated her 36th birthday in conjunction with Rossman Long from RAL Events. The event took place on Wednesday, 21 July. The duo fed children and adults in Klipspruit a scrumptious meal.

 Badenhorst is a semifinalist for Ms Glam SA. 

 

A piece of birthday cake along with masks, party packs, cooked food, juice, and sandwiches were handed out.

 

“Our foundation focuses on youth empowerment as well as serving the community. We chose Klipspruit as we saw a great need, our children really are hungry. We fed 30 adults and 90 kids,” Badenhorst said.

 

They will be organizing another drive where they plan on serving a hot cup of soup.

 

For more information on their next drive please contact Monique Badenhorst on  072-221-3686