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TAFELSIG: NPO A HELPING HAND FOR MANY
Digging in their heels LAILA MAJIET @laila_newsie
A
handful of Tafelsig residents are hell bent on having a community organisation evicted. However, community workers insist they will do everything in their power to prevent this from happening. Joining Hands has been operating from a container in Voelvlei Street for 25 years. What started as just a soup kitchen, has grown into an educare, madrassah, youth development centre, church and a meeting place for many other community organisations. All of this was threatened when the City of Cape Town’s Anti-land Invasion Unit, the Department of Social Development and health inspectors recently visited the premises. Lungiswa James, Mayoral Committee member for Health, says the City did not receive any formal complaints. However, a complaint lodged with the provincial department of social development was brought to the attention of the City’s health department. “The complaint received related to the manner in which waste was being disposed. A trench had apparently been dug behind the facility for this purpose after the last visit by City officials in March, when the waste was disposed at a house next door. Environmental Health is in the process of serving a compliance notice in this regard,” James says. The group of residents who lodged complaints against the organisation declined the opportunity to comment. Heading the organisation is Charles de Long. The Tafelsig resident believes the registered NPO plays a vital role in uplifting residents living nearby. “This is a base for so many community organisations including the street committees and neighbourhood watch. Without these premises, many safety structures will have no base from which to operate,” he insists. De Long confirms the trench was made for compost waste. Neighbourhood watch member Yumna Genever reiterates this. “It is crucial for us
CHEMCARE MR I MIDWEEK SPECIALS
DISPUTE: Charles de Long of Joining Hands claims he has been threatened with eviction from Cityowned property, despite offering “vital services” to the Tafelsig community. The organisation hosts youth development programmes including a brass band. PHOTO: LAILA to have a meeting place before we head for the streets to patrol. It is very upsetting that a handful of residents cannot see the benefits reaped,” she stresses. Kashiefa Harris of the Aids Legal Network in Mitchell’s Plain says the network often uses the premises for community meetings. “He doesn’t charge us a cent. Because of him we are able to provide essential services and workshops to this community.” Tafelsig resident Rosaline Scholtz has
been living in the area for five years more than the organisation has been in operation. The 64-year-old woman says many people rely on the soup kitchen for their daily meal. “Many of us will go to bed with an empty stomach if it were not for the soup kitchen and the good work of these volunteers,” she says. “I live off my pension which does not see me through the month. I therefore rely on the soup kitchen like many others.” Resident Amy Macaties (69) says the or-
ganisation tries to assist everyone. “But the reality is it cannot. However, Charles tries as far as possible to assist those in need.” Belinda Walker, Mayoral Committee member for Community Services and Special Projects, says the organisation is occupying City-owned land and is not in a lease agreement with the City. Mayoral Committee member for Social Development Suzette Little encourages the educare to register.
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