The founder of the Green Development Foundation (GDF) has vowed to break the cycle of dependency on government grants.
Addressing the organisation’s new directors and executive committee, Mulalo Thabela said, “We want to teach people how to fish, [to] stop politicising social ills and cut off the chain of dependency in South Africa.”
The GDF’s goal is to eradicate hunger in Mzansi, said Thabela during an event held on Friday, 6 August at Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park.
Among the dignitaries in attendance was Thembi Siweya, the deputy minister in the Presidency.
Thabela said the GDF believes in cleaning up local communities to ensure a better environment for all. When the Covid-19 pandemic first struck, it provided seedlings to other organisations to help achieve the goal of planting a million trees by 2030.
Empowering communities
At the event, Dali Tambo was announced as the new chairperson of the GDF board. Speaking to Food For Mzansi, Tambo revealed that he was keen on preserving both social and environmental heritage.
“Being the chair of the GDF falls in line with my personal philosophy about empowering communities,” he said.
The organisation is also committed to boosting food security, agriculture, environmental conservation and water management initiatives. Among its future goals count an agroforestry campaign in September.
The other board members are Mashila Matlala, Victor Nesengani and Niel Van Zyl.
ALSO READ: Redefining ‘food waste’ can ease hunger, save environment
