MEC Sihlwayi brings hope to a family in Hankey
By Mzukisi Matinise
MEC Sihlwayi handing over blankets and food parcels to Antonie family
As part of Women’s month celebrations, Social Development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi handed over a furniture to a family that was a victim of gender based violence in Hankey, Kouga Municipality.
On the Morning of 03/08/2014 the small community of Hankey was wakened by devastating news that shocked the whole of the Eastern Cape. Ms Claudia Antonie’s house was set alight by a group of youth resulting in the death of her mother and nephew. This barbarian act left 3 children of the deceased mother without a home.
The incident which is believed to be stirred by drug abuse touched MEC Sihlwayi. She visited the family during the 16 days of activism of 2014 to show her support. During the visit she committed her Department to donate furniture to the family once the Department of Public Works rebuilds the house for the family.
Despite the house not being built yet, which is planned to be built before December, the Department went ahead and donated the furniture to the family. This was because the MEC planned to donate the furniture during the Women’s month. During the Women’s month the Department vowed to embrace and promote the rights of vulnerable women and their children, with a special focus to victims of gender based violence.
The Department on its call to bring hope to dysfunctional families, the MEC also visited families to handover food parcels to families in distress. During the door to door visit, a young girl from Humansdorp was given a bright hope when MEC Sihlwayi found her with no hope of ever furthering her studies to be able to get better opportunities. Amanda Koli (21), a matriculant, was chosen to be on the list of students who will be trained as Chefs at Stenden University, in Port Alfred. The Top Chef programme is part of the Department’s youth development programmes.
Astonished, Amanda said she was depressed when the Hon MEC entered their house, “I hid myself inside the room when the MEC and other delegates entered our house, I did not want them to see me. I did not know that I was hiding from an opportunity of a lifetime till the MEC sent my Aunt to call me from the room”. Amanda lives with her aunt and the do not have a source of income.
The MEC addressed the Community of Hankey on Issues of Gender-Based Violence and drug abuse in Vusumzi Landu Hall, “The Government is not supposed to be spending so much money in trying to rehabilitate people who are addicted to alcohol and drugs, this money is supposed to be spent on community projects that will bring food to the tables of the needy people” she said. She also stressed out that people should join hands with government to curb the illnesses that are destroying our communities such as gender-based violence and substance abuse.