City’s Christmas gifts to Alex flood children

21 December 2016

 

More than 200 Alexandra children who were left homeless and destitute when their houses were swept away by floods in November were treated to a lively Christmas party organised by City of Johannesburg’s Public Safety Department at the Marlboro Community Hall on Tuesday December 20.

 

The children were showered with an assortment of gifts and other necessities, including blankets, clothes, sweets, mielie meal, cooking oil, peanut butter and potato chips from the City and the South African Chinese Language Education Foundation.

Speaking at the event, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety Cllr Michael Sun said the City wanted to spread the festive season cheer.

“This is a very special day as we are here to remind those who were affected by the floods that they are not alone. Hundreds of people were affected and left with nothing, so today we are here to remind them that we care and we are thinking of them during this festive season,” said Cllr Sun.

He acknowledged that this was a difficult time for parents who were not in a position to do something special for their children. “We are here to give these kids what they need and this is our Christmas gift to them. We want these children to always remember that they are not alone,” said Cllr Sun.

He also said Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba’s administration wanted to ensure that residents knew they had a government they could count on in their hour of need.

Chairperson of the SA Chinese Language Education Foundation Jessica Han said her organisation felt it should lend a helping hand to make this Christmas special for the children. “The needs of children cannot wait,” said Han.

Twelve-year-old Itumeleng Ramakgopa was one of the children who were showered with love and gifts.
“Our home was swept away in the floods with all our belongings, including clothes and school books,” said Itumeleng.

She said she had thought she was going to have a black Christmas with little food and no gifts and Christmas clothes when the City came to the rescue.

“This was so unexpected. I’m so happy to have received these Christmas gifts from the City. It means I’m going to enjoy Christmas like other kids,” she said.