THE Rehab group is to assist in a new £10 million plan to provide training, enterprise and community services for the five million people of Soweto in South Africa.
The former ANC deputy president and confidant of Mr Nelson Mandela, Mr Walter Sisulu, and his wife, Ms Albertina Sisulu, arrived in Dublin yesterday as a guest of Rehab to launch the Albertina Sisulu Foundation.
The foundation has invited Rehab, a non profit organisation providing services to the disabled and disadvantaged, to provide technical, business and fundraising expertise to build a new centre in Soweto. The first phase of the development will include a training centre, creche, pre school centre and sports hall.
The Sisulus meet the President, Mrs Robinson, tomorrow and the Taoiseach on Wednesday as part of a five day fundraising visit to Ireland for the project. A reception and dinner on Wednesday evening is expected to raise £60,000.
The Rehab chief executive, Mr Frank Flannery, said he expected the venture to be self financing. He hoped the Irish government would provide funding, and the UK Lottery would also be approached.
Unemployment in Soweto runs at more than 40 per cent. Although good basic education facilities are in place, training facilities are poor.
Mr Sisulu was for many years regarded as the second in command in the ANC, and was imprisoned for 25 years with Mr Mandela on Robben Island. Mrs Sisulu is a member of the South African parliament.
