Contributing to making a difference in community, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) office of the Midlands Campus Director collaborated with the Imbali Education and Innovation Precinct (IEIP) staff members in contributing towards buying food to donate to the Siyaphilisa Community Based Care situated at Imbali in Pietermaritzburg.

To kick start the programme, Mrs Tu Zondi, the founder of Siyaphilisa Community Based Care welcomed all the guests and expressed her excitement about the day.

Imbali Education and Innovation Precinct Project Manager, Dr Mfanozelwe Shozi welcomed everyone and unpacked the purpose of the day.

“It gives me a great pleasure to be part of such a great initiative done by our colleagues. I would first like to thank the Founder of Siyaphilisa Community Based Care: Mrs Zondi who has welcomed us within these premises. I must emphasize that the team contributed from their pockets in ensuring that we purchase everything that we have donated. It is important that organisations that do great things for our community are recognised and assisted as much as possible, with all that being said, I hope more people will contribute in ensuring that the goal of this organisation continues,”explained Dr Shozi.

Food parcels donated at Siyaphilisa Community Based Care.

Founder of Siyaphilisa Community Based Care, Mrs Tu Zondi thanked everyone who contributed in ensuring that programme took place and shared a background of how the organisation was established.

“Siyaphila Community Based Care was established in 2002 with the aim to assist people living with HIV and AIDS, but as more people were educated about the disease, we started to cater for people living with disability, old aged and people with dementia and more. Currently there are 45 people that live within the premises. We do receive support from different organisations but we need more assistance from organisations and individuals,” elaborated Mrs Zondi.

The Midlands Campus Director: Dr Joe Molete said the IEP team welcomed the challenge in 2023 and they decided to donate food to those who are less fortunate. “This is a stretch from the team’s normal daily duties as they contributed financially and bought food which were donated to Siyaphilisa Community Based Care. This gesture aligns with ENVISION2030 objectives of making a difference in our communities. As Maya Angelou say, when we give cheerfully and accept gratefully everyone is blessed. The blessing for those that helped is around the corner,” he elaborated.

Dr Molete also took the opportunity to thank all the team members who had participated and expressed that he hopes that this act of kindness will encourage many others who have not yet rose to the occasion to help others.

A team member at the office of the Midlands Campus Director, Nomvelo Cebekhulu expressed that giving back is a part of life and she believes that even the smallest act can make a difference in someone’s life and it feels good to know that one has made someone smile or feel more confident about themselves.

Pictured: DUT and IEIP staff members and Siyaphilisa Community Based Care Founder, Mrs Tu Zondi.

Photographer: Siyabonga Sibiya.

Zanele Mashaba