Celebrating Mandela Day with the Eerste Fabriek Flood Victims, 18 July 2020

It is the life and legacy of the great Nelson Mandela that propelled the staff of the Department of Library Service (DLS), under the guidance of the Community Engagement and Outreach focus group, to make a positive contribution to the communities in which the University of Pretoria operates.

The Eerste Fabriek flood victims were selected as the beneficiaries of the donation that would be contributed and collected by the DLS staff.  The flood victims reside in the informal settlement next to Moretele River, close to the Eerste Fabriek train station. They tragically lost everything when the floods destroyed their homes in December 2019.

They were temporarily moved to the Baptist Church (Mamelodi West) where they were housed, and then to a settlement next to Donkerhoek, where they are currently settling.

The DLS requested donations from staff members who generously contributed. A total of 313 soup jars and clothes were collected and donated.

In commemoration of #MandelaDay2020, the Department of Library Services visited the place where the Eerste Fabriek Flood Victims were re-settled to provide them with the donations of soup jars and clothes that were collected.  It was a heart-warming moment to see the smiles of gratitude of this community, appreciating what they received on the day.

View the images of the handover here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/UPLibraryServices/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10157439413106705

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” – Nelson Mandela