MAB, together with Big Shoes and Gauteng SAPS Province, has been hosting training for SAPS Client Service Centres on Managing Abandoned Babies. On 17 and 18 August such a training was hosted for the West Rand area. 38 SAPS members and 5 volunteers received their certificates.

We would like to thank our sponsors:

Mosaiek Congregation

Key West Spur

Ana- Paula's Coffee shop

Micheal van den Berg

One person changing lives

At MAB we have gotten to know many amazing people, who touches the lives through their passion. Sune is such a person. She started the "Verskilmakers" group and by hosting informal mornings at her house, she has mobilised her friends to donated and help charities. In April she donated over R1200 to MAB. In August her group donated 45 comfort packs for small girls who have been raped.

Just a wonderful example of how one person can change many lives!

Thanx Sune and your group!

MAB Incentive Awards - Gauteng

Matla a Bana, a Gauteng and Western Cape focused charity organisation hosted its bi-annual Incentive Awards, for the Gauteng Province on 26 August 2010 in Hurlingham at the Rosebank Union Church. The event celebrates South African Police Service (SAPS) members who have excelled beyond the call of duty.

The following individuals were acknowledged and honoured at the ceremony:
Constable Nalana of the Hillbrow Family Violence, Child protection and Sexual Offences Unit (linking a suspect by fingerprints en modus operandi)
Warrant Officer Gonkgang of the Tembisa Family Violence, Child Protection protection and Sexual Offences Unit
Constable Babile of the Alexandra Family Violence, Child protection and Sexual Offences Unit Warrant Officer Maedi of Katlehong (13 times Life imprisonment- 49 counts of rape for a serial rapist with several victims)
Constable Motsa of Ga-Rankuwa (Linking two missing children cases – decomposed bodies found, body parts used by Sangoma for muti..)
Captain Mathethwa of Katlehong( Best FCS Commander)
Colonel Maupa of Daveyton (Best Station Commander)
Colonel Anneke Pienaar (Service Excellence)
Vodacom Foundation National Coordinator, Melenie Naidoo (Serviec Excellence)
Katlehong FCS was the best unit for working together as a team to put a serial rapist behind bars!

These individuals were awarded with various gifts and were also issued with a certificate as a token of appreciation and an incentive to continue with their much-appreciated work. “With this special award ceremony we honor the Police men and women for what they do behind the scenes and for their invaluable support. We have seen the positive impact our collaboration has had and hope to involve even more likeminded people,” said Monique Strydom, founder of Matla a Bana.

We would like to thank all our sponsors for your continued:

Clearwater Mall, Fourways Mall, Cedar Square, Roodepoort Townlodge, Grayston Townlodge, Katherine str. City Lodge, Hunters Rest, Cajees Time Zone Clearwater Mall, Build a Bear, Servamus, Alice Art Gallery and Rosebank Union Church.

Last week MAB WC joined this group of dynamic women for their Women's Day celebration. We also received more than 35 comfort packs that will be distributed to SAPS.

Thanx Brenda and Anne Marie for thinking of us! We hope that this will be a long term relationship!

Women's Day Celebrations

Jennetta Basson(Mosaiek) Lizel(MAB) Louise Rivette (Mosaiek) Anne Malan (MC)

MAB was proud to be part of the Women's Day Celebrations hosted by Mosaiek Church and sponsored by Missional Expressions and the Women's Network (Randburg). A highlight was the attendance of members of Fairlands Police station. This station was adopted by Mosaiek as part of the MAB Adoption Program.

RIP Fiona

Today we mourn the death of one of Matla A Bana's greatest celebrity supporters and dear friend, Fiona Coyne. Thank you Fiona for always supporting us and for being such a good friend. You will be greatly missed here at Matla A Bana...

Xtremeforkids winner!

Bid for a fab date!

Make sure you get one of these fab dates! Go to www.bidorbuy.co.za and bid on the Matla A Bana Charity Auction (20 - 30 July).

THANK YOU RAMSAYMEDIA

We celebrated Mandela Day with the staff of Ramsaymedia, who packed and donated 150 comfort packs! There were many tears as staff members realised what these packs were going to be used for, but also joy in knowing that they will be helping an abused child.

Thank you Sandy and the Ramsaymedia staff, as well as all the other sponsors who made this project possible. Thank you as well to our SAPS partners who joined us for the handover event.

Today MAB became the first NGO to receive a donation from the SHOUT project. We would like to thank the Shout Ambassadors and trustees for helping us to help victims of crime! These funds will be used to make comfort packs for child-abuse victims who report crimes to the police.

You too can help make a contribution, by purchasing the SHOUT CD from any Pick 'n Pay store. For more info : http://www.shoutsa.com/

One man raises R100 000 for MAB!

Jos Malherbe departed on a cycling journey of nearly 12 000 kms from Cairo to Cape Town to raise funds for MAB. His adventure finally reached a highlight today when he handed over the R100000 to Matla A Bana during an event at the Table Bay Hotel.

We would like to thank everyone who have support this project by emailing, donating and pushing Jos on. Thank you to Sesego Cares who gave the last R10 000 for Jos to reach his target two days before the end of his trip.

Thank you also to Shaun and Sarah at the Table Bay Hotel who sponsored today's event, but also donated a fab 2 night stay worth R 12500 to Jos!

But mostly THANK YOU Jos for doing this for the children of South Africa! Like one posting on the blogsite said - "You are our HERO!".

Daveyton Child Friendly Facility Opened

Waiting area

Assessment room

VIP Guests - Valencia Moleko (Old Mutual), Lizel Van Eeden (MAB), Gen Bester & Gen Taioe (SAPS Gauteng Prov), Col Gumedi (SAPS Daveyton)

This week MAB opened it's 15th Child Friendly Reporting Facility in Gauteng. These facilities are designed to a MAB blueprint and the purpose of these facilities is to minimise the trauma children suffer when they report crimes against them.

This facility is situated in a park home at Daveyton Police Station. This area is a SAPS priority area when it comes to child abuse cases.

We would like to thank SAPS Gauteng Province for supplying the mobile home and Old Mutual for sponsoring the upgrading of this facility.

Gauteng - Child Protection Week Celebrations

Various projects were hosted by the MAB Gauteng office in celebration of Child Protection Week.
Pat & Yvonne Godwin (Christian Hertigate Church)

Marieta Rademeyer busy with training

Melinda & Annemarie (Randburg Dutch Reformed Church)

1. Breakfast for MAB Training partners

Roodepoort Townlodge sponsored the MAB training partners to a wonderfull breakfast. This was just our way to say thank you to them for always assisting and sponsoring our training.

2. Brunch for MAB Adoptive Churches and SAPS Forensic Social Workers

Fourways Mall sponsored a brunch to treat representatives of the all the churches who have adopted FCS Units in Gauteng. Included in this group was also the SAPS Forensic Social Workers.

3. Compassion Fatigue Workshop

Marita Rademeyer (Jelly Beanz) hosted a training session for MAB on Compassion Fatigue. Sixteen social workers were equipped to better service delivery by dealing with the trauma associated with working with traumatised children.

4. Mosaiek Church Outreach

Members of this congregation paid a visit to the Roodepoort Sexual Offences Court to show their support and appreciation for a job well done by the court officials. They treated them to great snacks and hopefully inspired the members to keep on doing such great work!

Thank you to all our sponsors for helping us celebrate Child Protection Week with such great projects!

SERVICE OF HOPE AND BLESSING – DURBANVILLE

Judy Bothes (Missing Children SA), Monique Strydom (MAB) and Children Against Crime Group

Old and young tying ribbons to create awareness

his year saw the first Service of Hope and Blessing hosted in the Northern Suburbs. This was hosted in celebration of Child Protection Week and Day on 30 May 2010 by the Durbanville Branch of Vredelust Church.
It turned out to be a very special morning started by a performance of the well-known Kuyasa Kids Choir, followed by the Candle Sermon and special prayers. The first candle and prayer in honour of the children of South Africa was lit by Capt Ruselo (Kraaifontein FCS), the second candle for the protectors and officials was lit by Louise Koen and the third candle for the perpetrators was lit by Col Swart (Commander Durbanville SAPS).
The sermon delivered by Gary Kieswetter had all in tears when he shared how he survived an incident of abuse when he was a small child. The morning was ended off with great cupcakes and a party table for the kids (and adults!!!). All members was asked to tie a green ribbon in their area to make people aware of child protection.
Thank you to Vredelust Church for hosting this, to Gary for his special message, for SAPS and the other charities who attended. We hope to be here again next year!

Child Protection Celebrations

50 FCS detectives attended the Connect workshop on the new Children's Act. Thanx Connect for sponsoring this!

Children Against Crime (Simon Van Der Stel Primary School) hosted a special ceremony to celebrate Child Protection Day. Thank you to Jacques and his kids for creating this awareness.