While millions around the country and the globe celebrated Mandela Day on Tuesday 18 July, seniors and management of Ikhaya Labantu Care Home in Langa marked the day with a function on Saturday 22 July.
While the event was meant to raise funds to renovate the centre, it also brought happiness to some of the home’s residents. They had the time to mingle with the visitors and share some joyful moments.
Facility manager Tinotenda Mhungu says the home requires a makeover. He adds they decided to invite various stakeholders including students and lecturers from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Health and members of Jubilee Church.
Ikhaya Labantu is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that caters for senior citizens or individuals who have no family support. It is home to 34 people.
To celebrate the day, the home prepared traditional meals and sold them at R100 per person.
Mhungu said the plan was to show love to the residents.
“Part of the aim is to entertain and show them love. We want to show them they are not alone even though they stay away from their families. Ikhaya Labantu is a home away from home for them,” said Mhungu.
Lionel Green-Thompson, Associate Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Health Science at UCT, said they have a good working relationship with Ikhaya Labantu.
He said UCT also send some of their students to the centre for practicals. He said they wanted their students to experience life in communities.
“As the university, we are committed to the development of the community living around Ikhaya Labantu. We are here today to show solidarity with this community,” said Thompson.
An elated resident Mxolisi Ntoni (84) said they were excited to see people coming in large numbers to celebrate with them. He said to them it meant a lot to have visitors.
“I’m very happy today to see so many people with us. Some residents here don’t have visitors. So, we enjoy every moment,” he said.
Ntoni described the caregivers at the centre as the nicest people in the world. He said they assist them with everything they want.
