‘The Arch’ blesses new radio station

Mandela Bay airwaves will never be the same again after Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu blessed a soon-to-be launched community radio station based in Motherwell.

A bubbly Tutu shared a message of hope with the workers, donors and patients at the Emmanuel Haven for HIV/ Aids patients, praising them for their efforts.

The function was attended by members of the clergy, donors, volunteers and home carers.

A group of pre-school pupils who receive food and clothing from the haven also attended. They recited poems and sang songs about how they had lost their mothers and fathers to Aids.

Tutu then went on a tour of the facility and, after blessing the studio at Emmanuel FM, he said jokingly: “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we have driven away the demons!”

The haven, which was founded by Dr Mamisa Chabula-Nxiweni in 2004, has gone from strength to strength and boasts a hydroponics project and a step-down centre for HIV patients.

Tutu said he was glad to have come to Port Elizabeth so that he could fight the stigma on those affected by HIV.

“Many of our people are isolated because they have HIV. I wanted to encourage those who are doing a fantastic job. I have learnt a lot today, and it fills me with pride to be here,” he said.

Tutu did not shy away from dancing with the traditional dancers and sharing jokes with members of the media and board during a tour of Emmanuel Haven facilities.

He toured the facility’s newly built step-down centre designed to rehabilitate HIV patients who might have been discharged from hospital early by offering services including physiotherapy.

Chabula-Nxiweni, who accompanied Tutu during the tour, said it would cost R7.5-million a year to maintain the stepdown centre and it did not have the money at present. “We need linen, equipment and even ambulances to get the facility up and running.”

Chabula said the new community radio station was expected to begin broadcasting in September.

“We invited Tutu because we have now completed the last phase of renovating our haven. We have a broadcast licence and we are not only going to educate people about Aids, but we are also going to entertain them.”

She said Emmanuel FM would be broadcast to Nelson Mandela Bay and surrounding areas including Addo and Kirkwood.

Tutu also toured the hydroponics project where 12000 tomatoes are picked every week.

The project is headed by Boniswa Dinge, of Kwazakhele, who was named as the Agriculture Department’s top female farmer.

“We work hard to grow tomatoes, green, red and yellow peppers and cucumbers. We even work on Christmas Day,” she said.

Tutu said there was no reason for children to go to bed hungry.

“This hydroponics project is something that can be transferred to the community. They need to know they don’t need begging bowls but need to be taught to grow vegetables,” he said.

Tutu arrived in Mandela Bay on Tuesday for a two-day visit during which he handed over 15000 lap desks to pupils and also spoke at a dinner.

(This story is courtesy of The Herald. Used with permission.)