BlackBoldVoice: The only Hope to a Hopeless community

The road leading to Motherwell is a harsh reality of South Africa’s townships. The neighbourhood is overcrowded with shacks, community members have already filled the nearby tavern in the morning and on a school-day children are seen playing at a rubbish dumping site. The township of Motherwell has a high concentration of poverty, crime and the population is largely unemployed. The community’s only hope is a woman who has dedicated her life in reversing the cycle that is within Motherwell. Zodwa Plaatjie is the founder of Sihlangule AIDS network; a community based non-profit organisation that provides core support for a dying community.

Her warm presence welcomes us to one of her many soup kitchen initiatives which is held in a shack at the centre of the community. A group of grandmas sit patiently for their daily meal as Zodwa Plaatjie and her volunteers dish out for them. Zodwa was born and still resides in Motherwell. She has always had a vision for her community and her sister’s death influenced her to educate and uplift her community. Sihlangule was founded on the 17^th of May 2005 and their services include awareness, care, support, children services, community support and development. The project extends to over five different units within Motherwell, units 11, 12A, 12B, 29, and 30 which are considered to be the poorest parts of Motherwell. For a woman who is only dependant on her husband’s petrol attendant income, Zodwa has not succumbed to any challenges set before her. “We rely on sponsors to fulfil our vision and sometimes we don’t get any [sponsors]”, says Zodwa. She has three children of her own and she also supports her sister’s two children. Zodwa admits that she would have given up easily without her husband’s support.

In 2008 she was the runner up for community builder of the year in the Eastern Cape in the youth category. Although she did not win, she still serves her community whole-heartedly. “I never did this to be recognised; instead I did this for my people” says Zodwa. Zodwa identified a need for this type of an organisation, because she was an orphan, having lost her mother due to pregnancy complications when she was 10 days old, and lost her father when she was 2 years old. She also lost most of her family to HIV/AIDS.

The organisation has 12 volunteers, and are each responsible for different units within Motherwell. The tasks for volunteers include, cooking for the elderly, and the sick, weekly home visits to child headed households, and those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. They have a database compiled through registration forms for members. They use these forms to regulate their numbers. They do not only support those that are registered with them, they help non-members as well. They have partnered up with Mercantile Hospital, to collect the sickly, those who suffer from diabetes, asthma, TB, and gout. The organisation is largely supported by the Mark Williams Trust which gives Sihlangule money for food.

From the soup kitchen, we are located to a nearby pre-school that boasts the most beautiful art. A bunch of laughter and singing is heard from a distance. The pre-school currently operates in Unit 29 in a shack that is rented to them, by a neighbour. It has two teaching staff, and 60 registered children. The two women play the role, of educator, care-taker, and also cook for the children. The pre-school has children from the age of 6months to 5years. Zodwa does not receive any assistance from the government and as a result she is forced to get payment from the parents to pay the staff. “Children need to be educated so that they too can reverse poverty and HIV/AIDS” emphasizes Zodwa. The children receive two meals and although there are parents who do not pay fees, Zodwa extracts vegetables from her garden project.

Zodwa Plaatjie has undoubtly made a difference in her community and she continues to do so. It is people like her that have to be acknowledged for their contribution to society. “You can also make a difference in the lives of the other people” says Zodwa. Whether you serve or assist, you will be equipping them with skills that will help better their lives.