Members of the Mthatha Brotherhood Social Club (Amapantsula) in Mthatha spent Mandela Day in a different way as they engaged in humanitarian work by hosting a soup kitchen for the needy residents of Mthatha.
This was confirmed by the Executive Secretary of the Mthatha Brotherhood Social Club, Yanda Makhongwana, who said their target was car guards, trolley porters, street children, and all those who might require a meal for the day.
“This year’s programme was unique because Mthatha is under a dark cloud, heavily affected by disasters. Homeless people are the most vulnerable, hence we decided to move it from the usual place at Owen Street to a central venue, MUNITATA Freedom Square. The aim was to reach as many people as possible, and our target was 100 individuals,” said Makhongwana.
He added that the programme was successful, and they managed to serve everyone who was present there, as people turned out in large numbers.
“They were so happy and appreciative of this free lunch, which we served with love and compassion.”
According to him, the goal was to unite men who identify as Pantsulas by style, under the vision and mission of promoting Ubuntu.
He said it was most important to play a meaningful role in society by addressing all sorts of social ills.
“It was started in 2019, and currently we have 20 registered members from the townships and villages of Mthatha, such as Ngangelizwe, Bhongweni, Slovo, Mandela, Chris Hani, Ngolo, Sibangweni, Link, and Payne, etc. We wanted to help other men who are not organised, especially the poorest of the poor, to form co-operatives in order to develop a sense of purpose in life.”
Makhongwana added that they also wanted to engage with other men in various communities to come up with workable solutions to combat crime, GBV (Gender-Based Violence), and substance abuse.
“Currently, our NPO (Non-Profit Organisation) is self-funded from our own pockets. We are facing a high rate of GBV, crime, drug abuse, and violence in general. For example, crime often takes place in Mthatha in broad daylight. Our police and law enforcement need to intensify operations to combat it.
“As a Brotherhood, we believe that if professional psychologists and the government can work together, they can overcome these challenges, such as GBV.”
