LTA collaborates with LEDET and other stakeholders for a successful Nelson Mandela Day at Takalani Children’s Home in Vhembe District

Limpopo Province; Siloam: Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) collaborated today, the 18th July 2024, with Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) and its other state-owned entities, namely, Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) with its subsidiaries and Limpopo Gambling Board (LGB). It is heartening that the centre also approached other local businesses and organisations, who donated various items necessary for the seventy (70) young people who are residents of the centre, Takalani Children’s Home.

Painting during the Nelson Mandela Day are left, MEC of Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), Mr. Tshitereke Matibe and Limpopo Tourism Agency Board Member, Mr. Moses Tseli.
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Takalani Children’s Home (TCH) aims to assist abandoned, orphaned and abused children. The name Takalani is a Tshivenda name meaning “be happy”. Takalani children’s home was established in May 1988 by Rev P. L. Van Langeveld together with the Reformed Church Synod Soutpansberg. The home started with only 9 children in total. TCH has the capacity to accommodate a maximum of 70 children. Currently, the home has 34 boys and 36 girls.

Present at the Nelson Mandela Day at the centre was the new MEC, Mr. Tshitereke Matibe, who in his address said, “Today is the biggest day in the life and history of South Africa’s democracy and the world’s human rights, peace and freedom. It was on this day in 1918 that the global symbol of equality before the law, Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Qunu in the Transkei, present day province of the Eastern Cape. The father of our democratic nation, as he was fondly known, played a leading role in the struggle for freedom and democracy in South Africa. To honour his role in the fight for universal franchise based on the will of the people, the United Nations declared 18 July the Nelson Mandela International Day, where everyone is called upon to spend at least 67 minutes of their time on this day, to change the world one bit at a time into a better place for human habitation”.

Hard at work and getting his hands dirty by painting also was LEDET HoD, Mr. Matodzi Rathumbu at Takalani Children’s Home in Siloam, Nzhelele in Vhembe District.
Matibe further said, “As the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism we saw it fit to come to this school as a place to volunteer our 67 minutes of our time to make this home a better place than it was yesterday, in honour of our icon Madiba. We chose this children’s home because of its mission to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the vulnerable, orphaned and destitute children between the age group of 0 to 18 years. This is the reason enough for us to come here, but also because the home answers to the call by Tata Madiba to always create a conducive environment to our children who Madiba insisted more often than not, that “our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation”. The Head of Department (LEDET), Mr. Matodzi Rathumbu, thanked all the donors and those that pledged to support the centre in various ways. He encouraged stakeholders to at the event to continue donating as this should not only end on the Nelson Mandela Day but “should continue to donate to improve the lives of the young people who are less fortunate than us”.

Issued on behalf of LTA by:
Surprise Moshokwa
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: 015 293 3600
Cell: 077 603 1268
Email: surprisem@golimpopo.com Share this

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