Alex goats destroy creche garden
The altruistic deeds of a teenager in Alexandra have been dented even before they have yielded results.
In this paper’s article, From dust bowl to food bowls of May 30, Solomon Khakhathi (17) a student at Leap school for maths and science was profiled after having organised his schoolmates, staff from Alex FM, Ekasi gym, Bokamoso youth project, and community members to help revamp a nutrition garden at Toddler City Educare Centre on 8th Avenue.
This after seeing the garden, which used to contribute to feeding the centre’s beneficiaries, declining gradually due to the lack of essential implements. He raised funds from an overseas donor which were used to purchase tools and seedlings, and he spent a weekend with the group reviving the garden.
Their generous efforts have been destroyed after the garden was invaded and vegetables eaten by goats which roam around freely. Hundreds of these animals can be seen all over Alexandra daily, with some even able to manoeuvre their way effortlessly through the heavy human and vehicular traffic.
City by-laws stipulate specific control and management of animals within the area, but this seemingly has not been applied for years, leading to an increase in the number of street goats in the township – which is already overcrowded with humans.
Meanwhile, the centre’s principal Dorah Matjie said the garden’s fence has since been heightened through a donation from Women for Peace, a non profit organisation and their main sponsor.
“While Solomon has promised to redo the garden, it’s amazing that at his age, this negative development has not demoralised him,” she said.
The centre supports 75 children with mental and physical development activities such as singing and storytelling for language and speech development; and art and drawing; and push cars and outdoor swings for muscle development. In addition, it helps 20 physically disabled elderly people with stimulation, keeping them active and off the streets.
Some companies also help by giving them tasks for a fee, which though minimum, is used to purchase essential household items like soap, bread and sugar.
“One company gives them ready-made eye shields to attach straps to, and another provides them beads to make necklaces. This helps them to develop skills which they can use for their self-reliance and to exit from depending on the centre,” Matjie concluded.
Related article: From dust bowl to food bowls
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