Public Representatives Open The Community Development Centre In Evaton
13 December 2009
Public representatives from the three spheres of government, together with leaders from the interfaith community, yesterday, 12 December, came together for the opening of the Rivers of Living Waters Ministries Development Centre in Evaton, Gauteng. The Centre, which will serve as a vehicle for learning, training and development for the previously disadvantaged community members residing in the area, is a vision of Bishop Stephen Zondo - the leader of the Rivers of Livinig Waters Ministries (RLW).
Chief Whip of the ANC, Dr Mathole Motshekga, who led the delegation comprised of Members of Parliament, Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and Council Members as part of constituency work in the area, gave a keynote address at the ceremony. The leaders included Angie Motshekga and Sisi Dolashe, ANCWL President and Secretary General respectively, Mr Michael Zuma who is the younger brother of President Jacob Zuma, Dineo Ntoane, the High Commissioner of Lesotho, Nthabiseng Khunou, ANC MP and leader of the Parliamentary Interfaith Forum, and Prof. Mosoma, deputy president of NILC and Vice Chancellor of UNISA.
The collaboration of leaders from all the spheres of government with representatives of interfaith structures and other formations in the society for an initiative of this nature is informed by our vision of an activist Parliament. At the core of this activist Parliament, for which we have committed ourselves in this term, is bringing public representatives closer to the people by transforming Constituency Offices into one-stop centres that will be run by representatives from levels of government. The presence of public representatives within communities is critical in ensuring that community partnerships such as this take place.
The RLW Community Development Centre was established as a symbol of hope for the community of Evaton whose people, like those living in other parts of the country, have had to endure many years of apartheid brutality. It has, together with the Church, made some remarkable trends in developing people through various projects like Business Forums and Women in Business Conferences; Social Responsibility to the Community; Bishop’s Project for orphans; Bishop’s Project for Educating the youth; and Senior Citizens project.
The area of Vaal Triangle was plagued by political violence such as those relating to the 1954 Evaton bus boycott; 1960 Sharpeville massacre; the first industrial sabotage of Sasol in 1980; the rent boycott of 1984; the Boipatong massacre and many others.
It is for this reason that our public representatives intervened, in partnership with the church leadership, to effect the process of healing and deliverance within the area. The RLW Community Development Centre shall serve as an important intervention in dealing with these challenges faced by the community.
The new RLW Development Centre is the only auditorium that can accommodate over 3000 in the whole Sedibeng area. It will also be used for 2010 event with its secured building and facilities. The structure will be operative seven days a week. It has full time employed staff of fifteen people, and an extra 300 permanent volunteers and 700 part-time volunteers that work like army ants.
In his keynote address, Dr Mathole Motshekga pointed out that the centre is a fulfilment of an extraordinary vision and belief in self-help, self-reliance and self-sufficiency. He said that the centre is an ideal place for self-improvement, skills development and character building, and more specifically for the recovery of the humanity of the community of Evaton.
Issued by
The Office of the ANC Chief Whip
ANC Parliamentary Caucus
Parliament of the Republic of SA
Cape Town, 8000
Enquiries:
Moloto Mothapo 082 370 6930
