Members of Rainbow Education and Skills Women’s Plumbing Programme (RESWPP) celebrated the International Nelson Mandela Day in style on Monday 18 July after they received work equipment from the national Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).
The event was held at JL Zwane Memorial Centre in Gugulethu.
The department donated 60 pairs of gloves, 60 masks and 60 overalls.
The department partnered with the City of Cape Town and Lixil Afrika, a housing and water company.
RESWPP, a non-profit organisation, educates and empowers women about plumbing skills.
RESWPP coordinator Nokubonga Mepeni described the contribution by the DWS as a great thing. She said the donation will build confidence among the trainees.
“Since the programme started in 2021, we have been working with our own clothes. And now that we have work suits, gloves and masks we will look presentable and people will start recognising us,” she said.
Mepeni stated that the programme has two phases. “Last year we were on phase one and we were training to fix taps and cisterns. And in phase two we are training them to fix gysers and bathroom basins and bathtubs,” she said.
Mashudu Murovhi, acting provincial head for the department, said that they felt they added great value by contributing to the organisation.
He said the organisation played an important role. He cited one of the reasons there are drain blockages is because people are dumping foreign objects in the drains. He urged the community to take ownership of their communities and stop littering.
Gugulethu Development Forum secretary Vincent Domingo said the forum supports anything that is developing the community.