By Nangamso Mabindla
13 December 2006

ETHEMBENI Old Age Home will be well prepared for next year's winter after Buffalo City Municipality handed over 17 blankets on Wednesday, 13 December to the pensioners.

The blankets, donated to the home in NU 2 in Mdantsane, are part of the 5 000 blankets given to the Red Cross in the Eastern Cape by national retail group Edcon in June. And the donation is part of the City's mission to put smiles on people's faces this summer. Another way it did this, on Sunday, 10 December, was by throwing a Christmas party for the township's elderly, hosted by Executive Mayor Zintle Peter.

Andile Ntoni, a councillor, said that the City felt a need to heed the call to bring warmth to the old people. "We wanted to distribute these blankets throughout the city's wards and we thought we would bring some here to this old age home."

He was happy that the township's only old age home was in good condition. "I am impressed with the condition of this home and I hope that our small contribution will add to the good work done here. I want to appeal to you to continue knocking on our doors; we might not respond quickly but we promise that your cries will not fall on deaf ears," he said.

The home's director, Pelisa Wellem, said she was very happy that the City had thought of the home this Christmas. "I am happy that our aged will be warm next winter and during the rainy days of the East London summer. I really appreciate this kind gesture from the municipality."

She said the old people living at the home were abused and abandoned, and any kind gesture reminded them that they were still appreciated. "My only plea is for the City to help us to build a bigger old age home. I have a long list of people waiting to be admitted here, but because of a lack of space we cannot [accommodate them]."