By Luzamo Sandlana
TCTA Social and Economic Development (SED) Officer Florence Ndhundhuma and Stakeholder Relations Coordinator Dudu Moremi visited Lukhanyo Children’s Home in Herschel, Eastern Cape, to better understand the centre’s needs and identify areas where TCTA could potentially provide support.
The visit followed an appeal by Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina for entities under the Department of Water and Sanitation to support the centre where possible.
Lukhanyo Children’s Home is a non-profit residential facility that provides care and protection to vulnerable children, including orphans and children who are unable to remain in the care of their biological families. The centre accommodates about 40 children, from infancy to 18 years of age.
“When the Minister invited us to the centre in August, we did not know what to expect. After seeing the circumstances at the centre, we felt it was important to return, understand its needs more fully and determine where TCTA could potentially assist,” said Ms Ndhundhuma.
The follow-up visit focused on conducting a needs assessment and gaining a clearer understanding of the centre’s priorities before considering possible forms of support.
“We did not want to make assumptions about what the centre needed. It was important for us to listen first and understand where support would make the greatest difference,” said Ms Moremi.
She added that witnessing the circumstances faced by some of the children was deeply moving and reinforced the importance of responding to the centre’s needs in a considered and meaningful way.
TCTA was introduced to Lukhanyo Children’s Home during an earlier visit convened by Minister Majodina, which brought together several water sector entities, including the Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa (AWSISA), Rand Water, Amatola Water, Vaal Central Water and Lepelle Northern Water.
Some of the participating entities also brought donations for the children, including school bags, blankets and toys.
During the visit, Minister Majodina encouraged the children not to allow their present circumstances to define their future.
“I am also from this area and I know the challenges because my upbringing had similar challenges, but I never gave up on what I wanted to achieve in life. This is why I invited these entities to see the situation for themselves and, where possible, lend a hand,” she said.
The children expressed their appreciation to the visitors through performances of song and dance.
For TCTA, the visit was an important first step in understanding the centre’s priorities and ensuring that any future support is informed by its actual needs rather than assumptions.
