In celebrating the life of the late former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson (Tata Madiba) Mandela, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Student Services and Development and Student Counselling office at the Midlands campus visited the Isandla Esihle Community Centre for the disabled at Snathing (Pietermaritzburg) area this morning (Thursday, 18 July 2019).

Isandla Esihle Community Centre for the disabled is a non-profit organisation established by a community member, Thokozani Shangase. The centre is currently a home for 12 children living with disabilities. These kids come from impoverished homes and some of these homes, their parents are unable to protect or cater to their special needs. Some of these kids are blind, paralysed and suffer from autism. The Student Services and Development office at Riverside Campus first met with Shangase in 2015 during a community outreach programme hosted by DUT.

According to Shozi-Nxumalo she was impressed by this woman who had love for kids living with disabilities and others who were affected and infected with HIV&AIDS. Through her engagement with Shangase, Shozi-Nxumalo and her team have been constant supporters of this centre.

“Today we decided to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela with the Isandla Esihle Community centre for the disabled which is highly dependent on donations. Although there is not much that we could offer as an office, we saw the need to contribute the least that we have. The kids accommodated at the centre are very close to our hearts,” said Shozi-Nxumalo.

Alluding to Shozi-Nxumalo’s sentiments, DUT Midlands Psychologist at the Student Counselling office, Nosipho Mkhwanazi said her office felt the need to build a relationship with the Isandla Esihle Community Centre for the disabled because of the children that need all the love. “It is vital for us as an institution that develops young minds that we also reach out to the community around us in order to show that we are not just a university but we are a family filled with love and support for our neighbours,” she said.

DUT donated fruits, bathing towels, seedlings (cabbages, spinach, lettuce and Beetroot) warm clothing for winter since the area is close to a river and a mountain. The DUT team also took some of the kids for a walk and played educational games.

Pictured: The DUT Student Services and Development together with the Student Counselling team on arrival at the Isandla Esihle Community Centre, Snathing area in Pietermaritzburg.

Noxolo Memela