There was a touch of irony in Linda Twala telling the club a bit about the history of Alexandra township in Sandton; he is a very large part of that history.
Ubab Linda, as he is known in the township (also as the Father of Alexandra), his anointed successorsLawrence Ruele and Gcina Twala joined the meeting this week to talk on the theme of Helping Without Much.
That's something we as Rotarians have quite a bit of experience of, but thankfully that thought doesn't daunt us, just as it doesn't seem to faze the visiting Alexandra trio.
Linda emphasised that the Alexandra community has come a long way with Rotary, with various clubs having helped on many fronts such as with wheelchairs and with helping to build the Phuthaditjaba Centre on the premises of Linda's house after it was bombed in 1986. Gcina, Linda's daughter, later revealed that Linda is also a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.
He said that there are more than a million people in about a square mile in the teeming township, which doesn't make community service easy with criminal elements and constant littering and dumping amongst the foremost problems, to say nothing of drug abuse and children allowed on the dangerous streets.
The most pressing need is for more land for housing and they are negotiating about areas in places like Frankenwald, Linbro Park, Marlboro and Modderfontein, land that originally belonged to Alex.
All three are very involved in the We Love Alexandra Community Makeover Project, Linda as president and chairman, Lawrence as vice-president and vice-chairman and Gcina as chairperson of the youth committee.
Linda said at the committee they see themselves as the Elephants (the elders); the lions (those getting on in years such as himself); the leopards representing the leaders of the next generation, such as Lawrence and Gcina, who added a fourth category: the Cubs, representing the youth, the leaders of the future "who we're grooming into becoming Leopards".
Lawrence was at the club meeting last week as well, to attend a fireside chat with the aim of joining the Rotary Club of Johannesburg New Dawn. That would make for interesting synergy possibilities indeed.
The Phuthaditjaba Centre does many things that people aren't aware of such as giving swimming lessons, reading, helping people get documented, getting drivers licences, providing feeding schemes, helping flood victims and getting involved in many more areas.
"We work with everybody to make life a bit easier for people."
Jeni Lobel, who has worked extensively with the trio, has offered to accompany New Dawn Rotarians to Alexandra after the meeting next Wednesday to see for themselves the odds that community leaders are facing. Members will be transported in combis and should be back at the club by about 11.30 am. Let Jeni know by Friday if you can join them
We has a surprise visit by Samantha Button, president of the Rotary Club of Arusha in Tanzania, who also happens to be the daughter-in-law of David Marshall and mother of his twin grandkids, whom he hasn't been able to see for 16 months due to Covid lockdowns.
It's no wonder David was beaming, despite admitting to having a sleepless night.
Samantha told us a bit about her club and the great tourist potential of Tanzania and invited New Dawn members to their District Conference in May in Arusha.
There's also a D9400 conference coming up in Maputo and members are encouraged to join, either in person or on Zoom, as it will be a hybrid conference.
And don't forget the Rotary International annual conference in Houston, Texas, in June. Carol Stier reports that she attended the Rotary Club of Rosebank meeting last Friday to meet with the Rotary International President Nominee Gordon McInally of Scotland and was suitably impressed.
This Friday notable Kenyan Rotarian Eric Kimani will be speaking at the Rosebank club meeting (they meet on Fridays at 1 pm at the Wanderers). He's here as the Endowment Major Donor Advisor for the zone and region.
A Thought for the Week: I learned long ago never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it. - George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)
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