Spar builds pit latrine for a needy family

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday September 14, 2018 13:35

The supermarket built the family a pit latrine toilet, through the Spar’s My Christmas Wish initiative. According to the Spar’s marketing manager, Ivo Sabrana, each year they host an SMS competition where people may submit their SMS wishes for a friend, family member or someone in the community who is in need.

“We then go through the wish list and identify people that we feel are mostly in need. Nominated recipients and entrants are then notified telephonically. We do not give them money directly, but we ensure that their wishes are fulfilled,” he said.

Sabrana said that the Motsamai family explained that they were in need of a toilet. He said that they spent P15, 000 to build the toilet and renovate their two-roomed house. The renovations included plastering, painting and installation of new doors.

According to Spar PRO and project manager, Tatum Stacy, each year they come up with a budget between P40, 000 and P50, 000 that is disbursed amongst a number of beneficiaries. He said in the previous years, they bought about eight wheelchairs for people living with disabilities, reading glasses and met various needs.

“It is sometimes important to put aside our work and focus on the other person. I am privileged to be part of this auspicious event because I also reside in this very village. I urge the community to come together and help those in need,” she said.

For her part, Mokatse/Modipane social welfare officer, Woga Motshewa expressed her gratitude towards that great achievement. She pointed out that even though the journey towards building the toilet was not easy, she was excited that at the end of the day they managed to fulfil the Motsamai family’s wish of having a toilet. She added that the toilet was very important, as it was needed for hygiene purposes of the family.However, she expressed a grief over the death of Tsholofelo Motsamai (the beneficiary) who passed away before the project was completed. She said Tsholofelo was a registered destitute with the social welfare. But, Motshewa noted, the toilet was still needed by the deceased’s children and grandchildren. 

“We have also come up with different fundraising initiatives to make this project a success. We also wanted to complete the other room of the uncompleted two rooms, but we failed due to financial constraints. We thank the Tsetseng Retail Group for their welcome gesture,” she said.