Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala flanked by Give Them Hope Foundation CEO Matshidiso Mothiba at the tree-planting ceremony
Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala literally planted a tree of hope at the Give Them Hope Foundation in Nellmapius on Mandela Day.
Zikalala said planting the tree was a gesture to give hope and courage to the foundation to continue with its work to serve the community of Nellmapius and Tshwane at large.
About 80 children in and around the Nellmapius community attended the tree-planting ceremony that was led by Deputy Minister Zikalala.
The IDT, as well as several Members of Parliament also attended the glittering ceremony.
Representatives of retail store Woolworths were also in attendance, as were representatives of entities like The Groove.
Representatives of famous Mamelodi-based professional soccer team Mamelodi Sundowns also graced the occasion and Absa Bank, Umoja Students, Abotts High School and Letsatsi Finance were also represented during the tree-planting ceremony.
Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala painting a wall at the Give Them Hope Foundation in Nellmapius on Mandela Day
Give Them Hope Foundation was established around 2009 by Matshidiso Mothiba and her husband Mortimer Mothiba at their home in Nellmapius.
Initially, the couple ran a shebeen in their home but through Divine intervention they transformed the place into a charity organisation that takes care of abandoned and neglected children as well as needy members of the community.
“I would like to thank the community of Nellmapius and all the people who visited us on Mandela Day to give hope to the children who are in our care and make them realise that whatever one needs in life, one can achieve it irrespective of one’s background,” said Matshidiso Mothiba, CEO of Give Them Hope Foundation.
She thanked all staff members for showing dedication to their work at the foundation and also thanked her husband Mortimer for having agreed to the idea of them taking care of so many children in the community of Nellmapius.
“I would like to thank RMA company for supporting us each and every year and we will never forget their generosity,” she said.