Speaker of Council plays Father Christmas

09 December 2016

 

The spirit of giving and sharing is in the air. City of Johannesburg Speaker of Council Cllr Vasco da Gama put smiles on more than 80 children’s faces when he handed them Christmas gifts at the Soweto Theatre in Jabulani on Thursday December 8.

 

The children were also treated to a sumptuous lunch and a memorable music show by acapella group Complete and 2015 Idol SA runner-up Mmatema Moremi. They performed a tribute concert to the 1950s jazz and vocal ensemble Manhattan Brothers and legendary singer Miriam Makeba.

Cllr Da Gama said while many people would be spending time with family and friends during this time of giving and sharing, orphaned children and those whose parents were unemployed also deserved to be spoilt.

“As the City of Johannesburg, we recognise that every year during the festive season there are children who don’t have anything to look forward to. Many of these children live in poverty. For me, it’s a pleasure to be here and see the joy on the children’s faces,” said Cllr Da Gama.

He said the City had identified organisations it would work with next year to help alleviate poverty. Cllr Da Gama said children were the future of not only Johannesburg but the whole country. He said this was the reason the City had partnered with the Junior Johannesburg Council to host this year’s children’s Christmas party.

“We wanted to show the little ones that they can dream beyond their current situations and that if they work hard they can achieve anything,” he said.

Johannesburg Junior Mayor Teddy Mathekga said it was always great to give back to the community and those who less fortunate. “We all have a vital role to play in alleviating poverty and I believe that such events will help create a caring nation,” said Mathekga.

Fourteen-year-old Monalique Louw of Westbury said she had always heard about the Soweto Theatre but this was her first time visiting the majestic entertainment venue.

“I would like to thank the City of Johannesburg for this great day and for our new clinic, which was opened on Tuesday. The clinic will make life easier for the elderly and people living with disabilities,” said Louw.