The Chand family settled in Moshupa in 1890. “Like they say, charity begins at home, the people of Moshupa are our family,” Chand said.
He said in this era of HIV/AIDS, when people worry about other things such as antiretroviral therapy, orphans remain a forgotten lot. He said they have already started helping the AIDS orphans in Selebi Phikwe in a small way. Only 15 families had been identified to receive the blankets in Moshupa and those who had not been listed were asked to see the social workers.
An ecstatic Khumoetsile Matshaba was happy to receive two blankets for her two nephews aged 13 and 15, whose parents died in 1997 and 2002. She explained that the children’s grandmother - who was their caretaker, was too old to walk to the Kgotla and that she had to receive donations on their behalf.
Ruth Kgodumo, 76, said that she was happy that she could give her two grand children in Form One and Three, the blankets for winter.
“It has been difficult. I use pension money and government handouts to take care of them,” she said.
An ailing, 80-year-old Dipotso Keontsenyana looks after her 17-year-old grand daughter. “Mabogo a botlhoko, matlho ga a bone sentle le tsone ditsebe ga di utlwe (My arms are painful, the eyes do not see properly and the ears are failing me),” she said. Keontsenyana lamented the loss of her children, which has left her with the responsibility of taking care of the grand-children.
Her sister, Mojale Keontsenyana who was also present at the Kgotla said she has a total of six orphans to take care of.
