MEC DANTJIE INJECTS FINANCIAL BOOST TO CHILDREN’S HOME

By James Moche

• In a significant initiative to support orphans and vulnerable children in Moretele, North West MEC for Social Development Basetsana Sussana Dantjie has allocated R960,000 to Morena Children’s Village in Ratjiepan, highlighting the department’s commitment to improving the lives of those in need.
• During the Thuntsa Lerole Reloaded service delivery roadshow, MEC Dantjie emphasised the importance of non-profit organisations (NPOs) using government funds appropriately to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and to effectively deliver essential services to communities.
• Dithoriso Lwate, founder of Morena Children’s Village, expressed gratitude for the funding, which will enhance care for 30 children and create job opportunities for locals, while sharing her own journey of overcoming personal hardships to provide support for vulnerable youth.

In a move to support orphans and vulnerable children in Moretele, North West MEC for Social Development Basetsana Sussana Dantjie has provided a much-needed financial injection of R960,000 to Morena Children’s Village based in Ratjiepan. 

During the Thuntsa Lerole Reloaded service delivery roadshow in the area, MEC Dantjie stated that the funding for Morena Children’s Village symbolises the department’s determination to improve the lives of vulnerable individuals, including children. 

Thuntsa Lerole is the North West provincial government’s programme designed to intensify and accelerate the provision of basic services, address service delivery blockages, and promote consistent engagement with communities across the province regarding service delivery issues.

“Our appeal is that NPOs should use government funds for their intended purposes. We call on the management of this children’s home to do likewise and use this money in accordance with relevant legislation, ensuring compliance with the NPO Act,” said Dantjie. “We value the work that NPOs are doing in our communities. They serve as an extended arm of the department, delivering critical services to our people and reaching areas that the department might not be able to access.”

The founder of Morena Children’s Village, Dithoriso Lwate, mentioned that her facility provides services to 30 children from Ratjiepan and the neighbouring villages. 

Lwate explained that the funding is intended to brighten the future of all the children in her care and to cover overhead costs. “With this funding, I will also be able to provide three meals a day for the children and create eleven job opportunities for locals,” Lwate stated, adding that the Department of Social Development has previously assisted the village with funding in the 2023 and 2024 financial years to support vulnerable children.

Reflecting on her own experiences, Lwate shared her history of gender abuse from an early age. Growing up without biological parents and facing physical abuse without support, she now dedicates herself to caring for children who need love, care, and support.

“I’m very emotional because we have endured many difficulties to get here. For me, as long as I can do something to benefit the children and put a smile on their faces, I feel satisfied. My heart feels good when I do good for children because I grew up in an orphanage myself,” she said.

Dantjie is scheduled to hand over cheques to funded NPOs across the province during the Thuntsa Lerole Reloaded service delivery programme until the end of the current financial year.