Coega Development Corporation’s interns spent Friday, 6 December –the day the world woke to news that beloved icon Nelson Mandela had passed away – giving back to the local community at the Ilingelabantu Children’s Home in Kwazakhele.

Here the interns did repair work, cleaned up and painted the home, and brought joy to the children by giving gifts of educational toys. They also had a braai for lunch and handed over groceries.

Coega’s interns adopted the home in 2009 as their corporate social investment (CSI) project, but this year the planned visit sadly held special meaning, coinciding with news of Madiba’s death. The interns paidspecial tribute to Madiba and his commitment to Ubuntu by following his example and acknowledging his love for children.

The children at the Ilingelabantu Children’s Home are from the surrounding townships areas of Njoli, Seyisi and Kwazakhele. The children are between the ages of two and 18 years and some have lost their parents to HIV/Aids while others face daily challenges of extreme poverty.