Honouring Mandela Day, Alberton SAPS in conjunction with Dawn Park SAPS, One4Rural, local CPFs, and the community of Dawn Park and Phumula came to rescue the Maluleke family and other community members who were in need on the 18th of July 2024.
Speaking to Sgt Sefojane of Alberton SAPS, he mentioned that the 67 minutes of Mandela Day was a continuation of a project that was already in progress helping the Maluleke family.
“On May 16, 2024, the young man, Edwin Ndebele (32) visited the Alberton SAPS to report a missing SASSA card. This would have been a mere routine report as recorded on any other day for any frontline member of the SAPS, however, it turned out to be a lucky day for Edwin,” Sgt Sefojane said.
He further said, “I did not only see a person reporting a missing card but I saw a human being who might need a little extra care.”
Edwin had gone to Alberton SAPS, despite living within the Dawn Park SAPS precinct. This single decision changed the trajectory of what was to come.
Sgt Sefojane started a conversation with Edwin and learned that, Edwin had suffered a serious stroke previously, left his speech and mobility affected, and that currently he is sharing his wheelchair with her mother Sophie.
This conversation was the start of a new page for this family of seven.
In the spirit of helping the Ndebele family, Sgt Sefojane mobilized with the Alberton SAPS, the CPF, Alberton’s station commander Colonel Letloenyane, and reached out to the then brand new station commander of Dawn Park SAPS Lt Colonel Makgakga who reached out to the chairperson of Rural Safety Bianca Zambetti who mobilized their internal group named One4Rural to assist.
On the 14th of June 2024, the first handover was beautifully executed. Two wheelchairs were handed over, along with clothes and food. The day saw all the stakeholders gather in three wheelchairs.
It is said that the extra wheelchair is soon to be given to an amputee in a nearby area who doesn’t have her own.
“From the 14th of June 2024, we all realized that the family’s situation was in a dire state. The place was not in a condition to be called a ‘home’.”
Later a wheelchair-friendly floor was installed in their yard, the broken moldy bathroom was redone, lights were installed for the first time in two rooms, and various other repairs and fresh paint were given.
On Thursday, 18 July 2024 a new lounge suite, a children’s table, a walker for Edwin (who previously shared one with his mother), and a new bed were handed over. Also, the day saw Lt Colonel Makgakga cook for 80 people who joined in the celebration, while the One4Rural Team completed the job, racking up 13 days on Mandela Day.
As a bonus for Mandela Day, a young infant who lived in a nearby shack that neighbors had been reporting, was left alone from eight to five each day was rescued and taken to Dawn Park SAPS to start the process of getting proper health.
Edwin and Sophie, have been successfully registered with a food parcel program, of which the first delivery has already happened, and have now landed with a very extended family of SAPS and One4Rural who will continue to check in with them and try to ensure that their lives are sustainably better going forward.
By Simphiwe Nkosi