Sibaya Community Trust donated R9,5-million to the centre’s development

Sibaya Community Trust donated over R9,5-million to develop a community hall and skills training centre in Chatsworth, Durban which was launched last week to transform the lives of residents.

The establishment of a community and skills training centre is set to be a game-changer for the Bayview community, offering a platform for residents to acquire valuable skills and resources that will empower them to pursue better opportunities and enhance their livelihoods.

Vivian Reddy, the visionary founder and chairman of Sibaya Community Trust, expressed his commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of individuals in the community and fostering sustainable development in the region.

“The donation reflects the Trust’s dedication to creating a brighter future for the people of Bayview and contributing to their overall wellbeing,” he said.

The centre’s programmes will provide a hub for education, training, and community engagement, fostering a supportive environment for skills development and personal growth. It will also run a daily soup kitchen to provide nutritional meals to the community.

Through this initiative, Sibaya Community Trust aims to uplift and empower individuals by equipping them with the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed in various fields.

Speaking at the handover of the building on May 24, eThekwini Municipality chairperson for Community Services Committee, Councillor Zama Sokhabase described the initiative as a “critical intervention which provides cushion to the most vulnerable in our society who would have been left destitute without these services”. Sokhabse said that the Bayview Ubuntu Community Centre embodied how partnerships with all social partners could lead to a better life for all South Africans.  “Sibaya Community Trust and Mr Reddy have a long history of supporting community development initiatives and making a difference in people’s lives, and we want to commend the Trust for investing over R250 million to 150 charity organisations over the years,” Sokhabase said.

The impact of the donation represents a catalyst for transformation and progress within the Bayview community. By investing in the establishment of this centre, the Trust is sowing the seeds for a more vibrant and prosperous future for all residents.

Sibaya Community Trust acknowledges the importance of community collaboration and partnerships in driving sustainable change. The donation towards the development of the community and skills training centre underscores the Trust’s belief in the collective effort needed to build a better tomorrow for Bayview and its inhabitants.

As the construction of the centre reaches completion and programmes are rolled out, the Trust remains dedicated to ensuring that the resources and opportunities provided will have a lasting and meaningful impact on the lives of those in the community.

The centre which was a vision and brainchild of activist and Chairperson of the Bayview Flats Residents Association, Brandon Pillay, is a commitment to the Bayview community to change lives.

“This centre is a beacon of hope to the Bayview community, a lighthouse standing on a hill, and would have never been possible without the support and generosity of Vivian Reddy and the Sibaya Community Trust. Vivian is our community hero and has brought hope to the forgotten community of Bayview. We will forever be indebted to him and the Trust,” Pillay said.

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