Manganye restores hope of Soshanguve youngsters

 

24 May 2021

 

                                        Thomas Manganye owner of Falal gym.

 

The youth of South Africa is faced with many challenges, this includes the high rate of unemployment, crime, drug abuse and many other socio-economic related challenges. The challenges go as far as affecting communities like Soshanguve and other places, despite these challenges Thomas Manganye from Soshanguve block F managed to rise above all obstacles and vowed to help the youth of Soshanguve.

Manganye has taken a stand to open a gym in Soshanguve community hall popular known as Falal, it is a place where young people gather for activities that include bodybuilding and fitness, amongst other things Manganye is committed to keep the youth off the streets and save them from drug abuse, Manganye says they have managed to save three young people from drug abuse in the recent years "in our community we have a serious problem of drugs, it is a major problem'' said Manganye.

The recovery of Luyanda Khanyi (20), who was a drug addict is also an example of the good work done by Mr Manganye. Khanyi says he was using drugs for the past three years since 2018. "My friends introduced me to drugs'' said Khanyi. Luyanda Khanyi is currently enrolled with Tshwane North College doing electrical engineering. Khanyi said drug abuse is a serious problem in Soshanguve and he will not advise a young person to take drugs, he further mentioned that drug abuse made his relationship with his parents unhealthy.

 

                                              Luyanda Khanyi beats drug addiction.

Khanyi is not the only young person assisted by Mr Manganye, other two young men are also tertiary students in Pretoria central who were at school by the time of the interview. Young females from Soshanguve also took part in the programs at the gym of Manganye, Vuyisile Baleke is a young girl from Soshanguve “the gym helps young female to stay off the streets, maintain a healthy lifestyle and stick to our diet plan" said Vuyisile.

Vuyisile believes that the government must make interventions on programs like this one "they should provide more gyms, hire people to work in those gyms as a way of tackling unemployment for the youth of Soshanguve in particular'' said Vuyisile.

The program of Manganye Thomas is not only focusing on the gym but it is a vehicle for those who are less fortunate to get what they have desired for a long time. Manganye is also working with the community forum of Soshanguve to raise funds and make donations for school children who do not have shoes and school uniforms.