The Minister of Public Works, Thulas Nxesi, will hand over a vehicle to the Nomaxabiso Non-Profit Organisation in Whittlesea on Saturday.
In a statement today, the department indicated that the vehicle would assist the NPO to do its work in assisting women and children who are survivors of abuse, and to work with the police to tackle the problem of abuse of women and children in the area. The vehicle has been donated by NISSAN South Africa.
The vehicle handover ceremony is part of the report back session by Nxesi on the commitments made by the State President, Cyril Ramaphosa to the communities in Whittlesea last year. This report back event is part of government’s work of using the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to improve the living conditions of all South Africans.
Some of the commitments made to the community during the visit by President Ramaphosa last year were:
- The Nomaxabiso Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) requested assistance with an overnight shelter for women and children who are victims of crime and violence because there was not enough space to accommodate victims and to keep them safe. The South African Police Services (SAPS) in Whittlesea has provided additional space for the Nomaxabiso Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) within the Whittlesea Police precinct which is used as a victim-friendly room.
- The centre needed assistance regarding accredited training for participants (care-givers) on Conflict Management. EPWP has assisted the Nomaxabiso VEP Project to register with Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA). The project can now directly apply for training funding to HWSETA. The Department of Public Works also conducted a Conflict Management workshop to assist beneficiaries with cooperative governance issues.
- The Enterprise Development directorate within the Department of Public Works assisted the project participants to register as a cooperative with the registration process finalized on November 16. The directorate is currently assisting the participants to establish a bakery.
The vehicle handover will take place at 10am at the Ekuphumleni community hall.