‘Help the Rural Child’ helps Goedgedacht!

GOEdgedacHT@2026 — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 09:30:28 +0000

Message from our MD

Over the years the Help the Rural Child (HtRC) shops in Cape Town became synonymous with the work of Goedgedacht. Under the leadership of the remarkable Nicky Antonie, this business has become a Cape Town household name.

Thousands of Cape Townians over the years donated second-hand books, clothes, and furniture which Nicky and her staff then collected and sold.

Adderley Street
Secondhand Books
Kirstenhof shop

Mowbray HtRC bookshop is my favourite shop. I find it an irresistible place to pass. Never I leave the shop without 5 or 6 books under my arm.

Since working at Goedgedacht I got to know the HtRC staff and volunteers as amazing people who give their everything to ensure there is as much as possible support for Goedgedacht’s work.

The COVID-19 lockdown period caused much uncertainty amongst HtRC staff: When will the shops open again? Would there be enough money to pay staff salaries? Were peoples’ jobs safe?
Miraculously staff continued to receive their salaries and nobody was retrenched.

Nicky’s years of experience are now busy steering the HtRC shops towards calmer waters. The shops are open again and slowly but surely business is starting to pick up.

Goedgedacht is very proud of HtRC and all the people involved with its work. Their dedication inspires us to work even harder in ensuring a better life for people living in rural communities.

On Thursday my colleague Mikal Lambert and I visited some of the HtRC staff in Cape Town. It was lovely to be together and to tell them how much we at Goedgedacht appreciate their hard work.

Many thanks to all the many people who are supporting the work of HtRC. Nicky, you and your team are COVID 19 heroes!

Yours sincerely,

Deon Snyman
Managing Director

The post ‘Help the Rural Child’ helps Goedgedacht! appeared first on Goedgedacht Trust South Africa.

Message from our MD | 23 June

GOEdgedacHT@2026 — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 08:53:36 +0000

I’VE MET SOME VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

In the photo: Swartland Municipality COVID 19 Heroes: Jo-Anne Krieger (Director Development Services), Joggie Scholtz (Municipal Manager) and Hillary Balie (Manager Community Development officer)

Dear Friends,

This horrendous virus has drawn people together in the most unexpected ways. I have been privileged to meet some extraordinary public officials who I would probably never have met but for COVID 19. Joggie Scholtz the Municipal Manager of Swartland Municipality carries the burden of over 3 700 square kilometres of South Africa, 11 towns and villages and hundreds of farms, somewhere around 200 000 people live in the Swartland. To watch Joggie at work caring for these communities during this pandemic is inspiring. Municipal officials spend most of their time overseeing rules and regulations, enforcing laws, collecting rates, maintaining and improving infrastructure, not the most popular jobs in the community and yet to watch Joggie and his officials move swiftly into feeding tens of thousands of people and concerning themselves with everyone’s health was very impressive and motivating.

Of course, he hasn’t done all of this additional work on his own. He has strong support from Jo-Anne Krieger (Director Development Services) and Hillary Balie (Manager Community Development Officer) both, have been outstanding, working 24/7. Hillary herself caught the virus and was off work for some time. Always friendly and cheerful under very difficult conditions. They bent over backwards to help Goedgedacht in a dozen different ways in the five villages where we have POP Youth Centres and are feeding over 1200 families a day. Last week the Municipality handed out 77 food hampers valued at R3 500 to the various food kitchens.

Then on the Health side, Goedgedacht has worked closely with Dr Hawkridge who is in charge of the Public Health Services of the West Coast. Quietly spoken, a good listener and willing to help in whatever way possible to ensure that we all stay healthy in this difficult time.

We salute you all.

Thank you Swartland Municipality, in particular Jo-Anne and Hillary for all the work that you are doing. Thank you Joggie and Dr Hawkridge.

You are all COVID 19 heroes.

To our many donors, I would like to say a big thank! You are touching the hearts of many people benefitting from Goedgedacht’s interventions

Yours sincerely,

Deon Snyman
Managing Director

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