Orphaned children and residents of Nkandla in northern KwaZulu-Natal celebrated Christmas with a difference this year, ANC president Jacob
Zuma said in his home town on Monday.
”During Christmas when other kids receive gifts these poor kids don’t receive anything. We just want them to feel loved once a year,” he said.
Zuma was addressing the media as brightly wrapped gifts — including bicycles and dolls — were being handed out to hundreds of children from surrounding areas.
Smiling children had been queuing up in the sweltering heat since 10am on Monday but nothing — not even the weather — could stop them from receiving their presents.
The annual Christmas party was held by the Jacob Zuma Educational Trust Fund and the Department of Social Development.
”The community received a good Christmas and we are very happy and excited … We want everyone to be happy and enjoy life even though they come from poor, destitute backgrounds.
”Today, it’s not just Christmas for the kids but for the adults too,” Zuma said.
He said the gift to the adults was a multipurpose centre that would cater to the needs of the people.
”It’s a double celebration”.
Earlier Zuma, together with KwaZulu-Natal social development minister Meshack Hadebe, officially launched the new R13,5-million Mamba One-Stop Centre, which is a first of its kind in the country.
Hadebe said the centre would provide ”breakfast, lunch and supper”, to the poor in the community, particularly child-headed households.
He said now there was no need for people to travel long distances as they could open up a police case at the centre.
The centre also has a crèche, offices for social workers, a haven for senior citizens, a home affairs office, and the department had made provisions to render programmes to children in conflict with the law.
Hadebe said diversion programmes were aimed at diverting children away from the criminal justice system
”There are eight similar structures that would be established in other rural communities and it offers a lot, including a place where people can report crime.”
Zuma said the initiative was aimed at bringing services to the people.
Meanwhile, back at the annual Christmas party, Zuma said he wanted to focus on poor and orphaned children.
”… and that’s why we have brought entertainment for them, slaughtered animals for them to eat … they will dance today, sing, have fun … and we are all very happy and excited for them,” he said.
To matriculants awaiting results on Tuesday, Zuma urged them not to take the outcome too seriously.
”Those who don’t [do well], they must not think it’s the end of the world. Just try again and you will succeed … one time you lose, one time you win, that’s how it works,” he said.
He, however, said he hoped the matric results this year would be better than last year. – Sapa