By MAKWENA MANAKA
Sibanye Special Day Care Centre, a Joza NPO, was opened in 2014 by early childhood development teachers Malungisa Malonie, 34, and Veliswa Mdaka, 38, to cater for children with special needs.
Malungisa Malonie studied preschool courses at Rhodes University’s Center for Social Development. She continues to hone her skills as an Early Childhood Development student at Oxbridge Academy and through Department of Basic Education training.
“I joined the Kha Ri Gude Literacy Campaign carried out by the Department of Education in 2008 and 2009, where we taught elderly people. When you’re teaching older people, they say that as they grow, they become children because they need that love and care. I said no man, ‘If I can teach the elderly, then I can teach children’.”
The NPO is registered with the Department of Social Development. It cares and educates mentally and physically differently-abled children. Sibanye Special Day Care is the only centre in the area that provides care for children of all ages who wear nappies.
“We are stimulating them. We are teaching them life skills, and some of them have found places at boarding schools because now they are fully trained. They can sit still and feed themselves. We take them and give them those life skills so that they can get better lives for themselves.”
Located on Samuel Ntlebi Primary School premises, the centre provides a safe, educational space and allows parents to go to work freely.
Sibanye does not receive government funding and relies solely on donations and fees paid by parents to operate. The centre currently has four learners that each pay monthly fees of R350.
“It’s hard to say we are financially stable because the children are few, and as they are few, we don’t have much fee income.”
Joza ADC, Grahamstown Rotary Club and Grahamstown Bowling Club made donations to the centre. Still, it fell victim to a burglary in November last year where most of its possession were stolen. The stolen items include a computer, printer, microwave, kettle, extension cords, a television, wall bracket, stationary, mattresses, bedding, toys, play equipment, and most of their kitchenware, such as cooking utensils and dishes.
The centre has opened a GivenGain account to replace the stolen items through fundraising. It has, however, been challenging to raise funds, and the centre remains unable to replace the stolen items.
“We are just praying that a good samaritan can come along and assist,” said Malonie.
Tax-deductible cash donations can be made through their GivenGain account at the link below:
https://www.givengain.com/cc/sibanyespecial/
You can reach Sibanye Special Day Care Centre using the following details:
- Email – Sibanye2014@gmail.com
- Malungisa Malonie – 0603564762 (Call or WhatsApp)
- Veliswa Mdaka – 0731428897(Call) or 0724354464(WhatsApp)
Hi-tec Security lauded Sibanye for its work on the Hi-Tec Security Facebook page and donated and installed an alarm system to prevent future burglaries. Hitec Security also made a plea to the public to donate unwanted items on Sibanye’s wish list. The wish list includes extension Cords, toys play, equipment cooking, pots heater, stationery, cleaning materials, and covid-19 protective materials such as surgical gloves & masks.
On Tuesday, 2 November, Hi-Tec Security delivered a bakkie load of donated items, including bedding, scatter cushions, carpets, a window blind, surgical gloves, and Covid-19 protective masks.
Hi-Tec Security serves as a drop-off point at 21 New Street, where it has a box in its reception area marked “Sibanye” that you can directly drop your donations. The office is open 08:00 – 17:00, Monday – Thursday & 08:00 – 16:00 on Friday.
If you wish to donate but don’t have transport, Hi-Tec is available to collect donations. You can call during office hours on (046) 636-1660 to make arrangements.
