Saturday morning, 06 April 2019 was cold and cloudy but did not deter the City of Joburg Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development Deparment Clr Nonhlanhla Sifumba and city officials to take services to the community of Vrededorp in Region F.
This roadshow forms part of the outreach programme that MMC Sifumba is leading to expose communities to services within her portfolio, that is, Arts, Culture and Heritage, Library and Information Services, Sport and Recreation, City Parks and Zoo and Joburg Theatres.
The overwhelming support received from sister departments such as Disaster Management, CRUM, EMS, Health Services, Joburg Water, JMPD, Pikitup and Social Development was a clear indication that when resources are amalgamated communities benefit.
“This is what community development is about, bringing people together and most of all bringing them our service offerings. It gives me utmost pleasure and fulfillment to see children and adults alike being genuinely happy,” said MMC Sifumba.
In attendance was Jenny van der Merwe, who said: “At last council came to my area. Look at the children, they are happy. I so wish this was happening every Saturday. If it was happening, our children would be safe and protected from bad things.”
Vrededorp is located on the west side of Brixton in Joburg. It is a community where you will find mostly vulnerable people who rely on government services. Kobus Pieter was among those who were taught ncuva/mmela, one of the South African’s indigenous board games. His willingness to learn was heartening. After finally mastering the rules of the game, his face shone with happiness.
Seeing a mini A re Sebetseng being implemented by children who quickly picked up papers and garbage in the park at the corner of Rus and Vrede streets was amazing. Those who filled the rubbish bags scooped the tickets to watch shows at the Joburg Theatre. The exuberance of the children was also seen in many activities. At one time they were occupied with paper colouring, touching of snakes, playing board games and dancing of the stage of the Joburg Theatres’ truck.
The cherry on top was a ride around the park on an old London bus.
