WATCH: Madiba magic brings love and laughter to many

Cheer was in the air yesterday as impoverished children and adults were treated to acts of kindness and goodwill throughout the day as part of the Mandela Day celebrations.

In Mdantsane, a family who had lived in a badly damaged house after a car crashed into it in 2012 killing an elderly woman sleeping in her bedroom, watched in joy as the house was renovated by prisoners from the Fort Jackson prison.

The material was sponsored by Asahj Monti projects, with contributions from the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture.

The family’s plight was brought to the attention of Mandla Makinana, owner of Makinana Funeral Parlour, who then approached other departments to collaborate and renovate the run-down house.

Buffalo City Metro (BCM) district manager of arts and culture, Mntuse Njokoma, said employees had funded the initiative from their own pockets as their way of giving back to the community.

“We are here as our social committee, and our women’s and men’s forums, trying to make a difference with the small things we have.

“Our MEC has also allocated paint for the inside and outside including roof paint,” said Njokoma.

Terrence Barnes, who lives in the house with his sister Nosiphiwo Moeshe, said they were excited and looking forward to living in their renovated house.

“We had been living in this house as it was since our mother passed away. The man who caused the accident promised to fix the house but he never came back.

“My sister has been crying all day in disbelief that there are good samaritans who are giving us a new home. Our mother must be smiling in heaven.”

Masizakhe Children’s Home received 67 blankets, groceries and “goody” packs through an initiative of the Mdusta division of the Uncedo Taxi Association, which forged relations with Buffalo Toyota, where the taxi drivers purchased their vehicles, and Scottfin brokers, which insured the taxis.

Uncedo chairman Mthetheleli Mqala said they drove past Masizakhe every day and saw the plight of the children, and so approached their business partners to help.

“We also want to change the perception that people have that taxi people are vicious and don’t care.

“We are human, we are parents and the children here are also our children.”

Grateful Masizakhe director Luyanda Lusizi said the home was in dire need.

“They have really saved us a lot because we have a minimal budget and everything that we have received will go a long way in assisting the children and the home.”

The National Tooling Initiative also gave soccer nets, balls, cricket bats and balls to the centre, donated by students in the Border Training Centre programme.

Mercedes-Benz SA’s (MBSA) East London plant hosted 100 children from Daily Bread, African Angels, and Sange Child and Youth Care Centre from 2pm to 4pm in what appeared to be a children’s heaven.

The party was hosted by 150 employees, who organised different stalls from their own pockets, which offered face painting, cupcake decorating, X-Box and other activities.

MBSA spokesman Asanda Fonqo said an array of activities were lined up for this week by the Employees Volunteering Programme. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za