E Cape halfway house gets vehicle donation

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

An Eastern Cape Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) assisting abused women and children in Whittlesea will now be able to efficiently provide services to beneficiaries, thanks to a generous donation from the Department of Public Works.

Minister Thulas Nxesi and motor vehicle manufacturer giant Nissan South Africa will on Saturday donate a vehicle to Nomaxabiso NPO.

The vehicle is expected to assist the organisation continue to assist abuse survivors in the community as well as assist the NPO to work with the police to tackle the scourge in the area. The vehicle has been donated by Nissan South Africa.

The NPO, the department said, had initially requested an overnight shelter for survivors. The organisation had complained that it did not have enough space to accommodate those seeking help.

“The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Whittlesea has provided additional space for the Nomaxabiso Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) within the Whittlesea Police Precinct, which is used as a victim friendly room,” the department said in a statement.

The vehicle handover ceremony is part of the report back session by Nxesi on the commitments made by President Cyril Ramaphosa to the communities in Whittlesea last year. This report back event is part of government’s work of using the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to improve the living conditions of South Africans.

During the visit, President Ramaphosa made several commitments, some of which have since been implemented.

The centre during the visit requested assistance regarding accredited training for care-givers on conflict management.

“EPWP has assisted the Nomaxabiso VEP Project to register with the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA). The project can now directly apply for training funding from HWSETA. The Department of Public Works also conducted a conflict management workshop to assist beneficiaries with Cooperative Governance issues,” the department said.

The department’s enterprise development directorate has assisted the project participants to register as a cooperative, a process finalised on 16 November 2018. The directorate is currently assisting the participants to establish a bakery. – SAnews.gov.za