Cape Town - The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has donated more than 400 furniture and other household items previously used in ministerial homes to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community based organisations (CBOs) assisting vulnerable women and children.
Minister Patricia de Lille, together with the DPWI’s Cape Town regional office, has been handing over unused furniture to the organisations across the Western Cape over the past few weeks.
“The furniture has been stored in the DPWI regional office storage for many years, not being used, as it was previously used at houses in the parliamentary villages and ministerial homes in Cape Town,” De Lille said.
Items such as beds, stoves, chairs, fridges, couches, desks, book shelves, chests of drawers, washing machines, curtains, tables, lamps and pedestals were handed over to 25 organisations from areas such as Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Bredasdorp, Uniondale, Pacaltsdorp, Philippi, Ceres, Worcester, Elsies River, George, Mossel Bay, Bishop Lavis and Vredenburg.
De Lille said a total of 454 items were handed out.
“One of the first centres where we handed over furniture was the Nonceba Family & Council Centre in Khayelitsha, which takes care of abused women and children.
“At the furniture handover we heard devastating stories of the women and children at the shelter and the important work that the centre does to care for the victims,” De Lille said.
“There are hundreds of organisations across the country doing good work to care for abused women and children and we must do more to support and help them with this work.”
De Lille thanked all NGOs and CBOs for what they’re doing in this space to care for women and children.
“They are our community heroes and we salute them for their sacrifices and important work that they do. It is my hope that all the furniture items will be of good use to them and assist them in their operations at the various centres across the Western Cape.”