To honour former President Nelson Mandela’s legacy of compassion and service, Child Welfare South Africa – KwaZulu-Natal (CWSA-KZN) launched its annual Blanket Drive on Mandela Day, celebrated on Friday, 18 July.
The initiative received its first contribution from the Gift of the Givers, who donated blankets distributed to vulnerable children and families across the province.
CWSA-KZN Director, Shamitha Ramsuran, expressed her gratitude to Phoenix Child Welfare for providing resources that made the project launch possible. She highlighted the plight of service-users in rural communities, many of whom are forced to prioritise food over warmth during the harsh winter months.
She said CWSA-KZN plays a vital role in providing organisational development, capacity building, mentorship and support to 40 affiliated member organisations, 21 of which operate without supervisors or senior staff and are located in deeply rural and impoverished areas. These communities face severe challenges due to the country’s economic climate, high unemployment and rising inflation, with many households relying solely on government social grants for survival.
The organisation reported an alarming increase in cases of child neglect and abuse as families struggle to meet basic needs such as food and clothing. While removing children from their biological families is always a last resort, social workers often face this heartbreaking decision due to extreme deprivation.
Ramsuran said: “We remain committed to preserving and strengthening families by running structured family preservation and parenting programmes and try, wherever possible, to provide food parcels, baby formula, and essential baby items. However, these efforts are severely hampered by a lack of funding. The ‘One Blanket Drive’ is a simple yet impactful call to action — aimed at restoring dignity and offering warmth to children in need. We appeal to the public to donate just one blanket or contribute R200, which will help purchase a blanket for a child who desperately needs it.”
“Together, through collective generosity, we can honour Mandela’s legacy and help create a warmer, kinder South Africa,” Ramsuran concluded.
