MEC MBALI SHINGA BRINGS HOPE AND RELIEF TO KWANONGOMA FAMILIES ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES

By Sifiso Xulu

•  ⁠MEC Mbali Shinga distributed 30 food vouchers and winter blankets to vulnerable households in Ward 20 of Nongoma.
• ⁠The MEC conducted home visits, bringing emotional and material support directly to those in need.
• The visit highlighted the importance of reaching marginalized communities and restoring their sense of dignity through meaningful action.

There was a sense of renewed hope in Bhukhalini, Ward 20 of Nongoma Local Municipality, as KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Social Development, Ms Mbali Shinga, visited the rural community in observance of the International Day of Families.
This year’s theme, “Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development,” set the tone for a day focused on restoring dignity and uplifting the most vulnerable households in the area.
Among those most deeply moved by the MEC’s visit was Ms Fikile Kunene, a local resident struggling to make ends meet. With tears in her eyes, she welcomed the MEC into her modest home, where the MEC personally handed her a food voucher and warm winter blankets.
“I didn’t expect this at all,” Ms Kunene said. “Sometimes it feels like we are forgotten out here. But today, I feel seen. I feel cared for.”
During the home visit, MEC Shinga emphasized the importance of reaching families where they are and restoring their sense of worth.
“Families are the cornerstone of any society,” she said. “When we support them—especially those hardest hit by poverty—we lay the foundation for a better, more sustainable future.”
The MEC later distributed 30 food vouchers to families at a community gathering affected by the rising cost of living.

“Poverty is not just a statistic—it has a face, a story, a family behind it,” she said. “Our duty as government is to respond with compassion and practical support. This is not charity; this is justice.”
The initiative received praise from community members and local leaders. Many expressed that the MEC’s hands-on approach brought much-needed hope to rural areas that often feel overlooked.
“As a community leader, I’ve never seen this level of personal engagement from a high-ranking official,” said Mr Sibusiso Dlamini, a ward representative. “MEC Shinga’s visit has not only brought food—it has brought dignity.”
For the residents of Nongoma, this year’s International Day of Families will be remembered for its global theme and the tangible, heartfelt impact it brought to their doorsteps.