By Jacob Mawela.
The Friday afternoon of October 30 saw the opening of the state-of-the-art Linah Mashile Multi-Purpose Centre in Naledi Extension II, Soweto, by the Stanley and Daphne Nkosi Foundation.
Community members as well as dignitaries who, et al. included politicians, royal leader Chief Vhafuwi Matsila, radio presenter Sbu Leope and the South African acrobatics squad descended on the newly constructed multi-tiered building to witness its opening to much funfare.
The multi-million structure took two years and twenty nine days to build and is located adjacent to a clinic whose existence was made possible by Mashile’s own sense of service to the community of Soweto.
Its facilities consist of a church building, a multi-function hall, a kitchen equipped with industrial appliances, a business hub, counseling rooms and a theatre – while services rendered will include worship and fellowship which accommodate different churches, a soup kitchen, educational, digital skills training, workshops and entrepreneurial programmes.
In a booklet issued to attendees at the launch, it is mentioned that its purpose is to provide a dedicated space for education, spiritual upliftment, empowerment and community development in Naledi – and that through its funder, viz., the Stanley and Daphne Nkosi Foundation, it would support programmes which would address practical community needs, develop skills and create opportunities for young and older people.
The kitchen facility is meant for the preparation of meals for community programmes as well as assisting the Foundation to extend food support to elderly residents and others in need. While the counseling rooms will provide private spaces for guidance and emotional support.
The theatre will offer a platform for performances, cultural activities and the development of artistic talent – while the opposite located House of God will be used for church services, funerals and weddings in a template geared towards the supporting of personal well-being, encouragement of participation and strengthening of connections across generations.
The Head of Construction on the project, Patrick Mokwena thanked its commissioner, renowned philanthropist Daphne Mashile-Nkosi (the daughter of the late community leader the centre is named after) for inviting him to being part of an endeavour which will be of immense benefit to the immediate neighbourhood as well as Soweto at large.
“I have had the privilege of leading a hardworking, resilient team of bricklayers and specialists working alongside engineers to bring this centre to life,” stated the young constructor.
Another contributor to the successful undertaking, Project Manager, Welcome Mashinini, mentioned that overseeing the entire project and coordinating the professionals involved in it was both a demanding responsibility and a privilege. “Each decision had implications for the programme, costs, quality and the people who would eventually use the building, let in Mashinini, who added that working under Mashile-Nkosi’s leadership brought him a clear sense of accountability.”
A message from the foundation addressed to the people of Naledi urged them to care of the centre and make full use of the opportunities it offers – in addition to protecting it and maintaining its facilities.
About Linah Mashile
The person the centre is named after, Linah Mashile – who died aged 91 on October 21, 2022 – was a well-known and respected community leader born at Pilgrim’s Rest in Mpumalanga on October 31, 1930, who later made Soweto her home from which she devoted a life of service (her urging the the City of Johannesburg to construct the Naledi clinic, being a primary example) unto others which had her operating community soup kitchen; looking after the well-being of the elderly and working with young people in arts and crafts, inter alia.
The day on which the centre was opened was actually the eve of her birthday of October 31.
About the Stanley and Daphne Nkosi Foundation
The Stanley and Daphne Nkosi Foundation is a non-profit organisation which was founded by Daphne Mashile-Nkosi and her late husband Stanley Nkosi out of a vision and mission to benefit people it was created to help.
On its website, it states its vision as being to instil a lasting legacy of self worth, empowerment and good moral values, while its mission is to empower the lives of ordinary South Africans by investing in initiatives which focus on key factors which produce emancipated South Africans.
A list of the foundation’s endeavours make for impressive reading, among which include the construction of the Zakithi Nkosi Paediatric Haematology Clinic at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital; building of houses and libraries for disadvantaged South Africans; awarding of educational bursaries and others too numerous to mention.
Co-founder Stanley Nkosi was an ANC underground operative who worked with Kgalema Motlanthe and Siphiwe Nyanda as part of his Struggle credentials.