Theku Plaza

Clothes collected from family and friends over the December holiday were donated to a local orphanage. Donations included toys and sweets

In September 2018 Theku Plaza was approached by pupils from the School for the blind for financial assistance towards a school tour. They needed R10 000 for the tour and a total of R9 850 was raised with the assistance of the Centre Manager. They were able to find the balance needed and were able to go on tour.

In addition they required a typewriter and computer for the school. With the assistance of our tenant, Hollywood Bets, we were able to order and import them two of each item from overseas. 

Together with local newspaper, the Newcastillian, we asked the community to help raise funds for the Lindelani Disability and Care Centre.

The Newcastle community donated toys, linen, cake, sweets, clothes and nappies for the children at the Centre.

Our annual Christmas clothing drive was held again in 2018 and churches from Newcastle donated a lot of kids and adult clothes to the community. We were able to give about 70 people clothes for Christmas this year.

If the community have any queries regarding their municipal accounts, they have to travel to the municipality in town. The cost of the trip to town is R30 – in December we brought the municipality to the Plaza. 

On the first day the Municipality were able to help 250 people, on the second day 180 and the 3^rd day they saw 91 people.

521 People did not have to pay taxi fees - a saving of R15 630

On the 9^th of December 2018 Theku Plaza had a “Braai” for the Police, Special Force and the Security Company that helps us prevent crime. We hosted about 50 force members to thank them for what they are doing for the community of Theku Plaza. 

On the 9^th of February 2019 together with the Chariots of Champions we gave food and clothes to St. Anthony’s Child care Centre. The clothes were all donated by family and friends of Theku Plaza

To kick off our 2019 Back to School programme, we donated 13 pairs of shoes and 13 navy blue golf shirts to this school for the disabled. A feeding chair, pram, 2 fans, food, nappies, bottles, clothes and blankets were also donated to help kick start the school year.

Another beneficiary of our Back to School campaign - this school received 160 pairs of school shoes for needy learners.

This school was identified as part of our Back to School Drive due to its need to feed their learners. A number of food items were donated as the school meal is often the learners only meal for the day.

Theku Plaza donated 60 pairs of shoes to Sizakancane Primary School in celebration of the 2019 school year.

Theku Plaza worked with Clover Krush to give away 5 200 pairs of school shoes at the start of the 2019 school year. In addition to the shoes that were donated, 6 000 Clover juices were also handed out.

In May 2019 a member of the School for the Blind received a wheelchair from Theku Plaza. He is paralyzed from his waist down and has lost full vision. After sourcing a wheelchair, it was donated on 7 May.

As part of Mandela Day 2019, Theku Plaza went to St. Anthony’s Child and Youth Centre to donate soup and cake to 95 children. The cake was definitly the highlight of the day!

In partnership with Shoprite, Theku Plaza donates all excess bread and food to St. Anthony’s Child & Youth Centre. The food gets sent to the Centre Managers office daily and St. Anthony’s then comes to collect. The food is still fresh and the daily donation is worth approximately R2 500.

On the first day of each month Theku Plaza hosts approximately 1 500 pensioners who are awaiting their grant payout for the month. The Plaza hosts a coffee and tea stall that provides those waiting in line with free tea or coffee and cake or sandwiches.  

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre Manager for Theku Plaza personally began making masks for the community of Theku.

Over 1 600 masks were made and handed out, particularly to the elders in the community. Local police, tenants and health workers also received mask donations.

Throughout the course of level 5 lockdown, the Plaza was able to provide approximately 1200 members of the SAPS and military with a daily meal for 15 days. The meals were hand made and distributed by the Centre Manager of the Plaza.

This year Theku Plaza planned to give out 67 food parcels to honor Mandela Day.

We were however able to make up 110 food parcels with the allocated budget. 80 parcels went to Kwa Hilda Ongcwele Community Care Centre, 15 were given to Dr. Zulu to give to families in her area and 10 were given to the leader of our traditional dancers who is looking after 18 orphaned children. 

The remaining 5 parcels were given to a family of 8 living close to the mall. R2 000 worth of clothing was also donated to the family.

Theku Plaza sponsored gifts for all the women in the local police force. 400 packs of sanitary pads were also donated to a local crisis centre.

Theku Plaza served 2800 pensioners with tea, coffee and hotdogs during the pension payouts in March 2021. A total of R20 per pensioner is allocated to give them a meal while they wait to claim thier grants at the centre

In April 2021, Theku Plaza served 2 560 pensioners coffee, tea and hotdogs while they waited to claim their SASSA grants at the Plaza.

800 litres of soup was prepared by the Centre Manager of Theku Plaza for the June 2021 SASSA handouts. 2 900 bread rolls and 30 loaves of bread were used and 3 550 pensioners recieved something to eat and drink while they waited.