Doc on a mission to make a difference

Every Sunday for the last three years, Dr Sandile Zibi has taken off his white medical coat and put on an apron before serving the community of Site C, Bhongweni and Thembani through the Vuselela Seventh Day Adventist Church’s soup kitchen.

The 56-year-old father of six said they are running the soup kitchen with funds donated by church members.

They have a number of activities within the church which are all aimed at making a meaningful impact in Khayelitsha.

Dr Zibi said the idea of starting a soup kitchen at the church came after he kept noticing a group of men standing on the side of the road in Mfuleni who hoped to get picked up for work so they could support their families.

He then approached the church and the idea of the soup kitchen was warmly welcomed by the congregation.

He said as the church they have a social responsibility to establish programmes which are aimed at making a difference.

People are not remembered for the expensive vehicles they owned but for the legacy they leave behind, said Dr Zibi.

“More than 200 people get a meal. When we started we had about 20 people. I'm thrilled that the church is able to offer a great service to the community and personally I love community development and giving back. I firmly believe that we are because of others and as black professionals we also have a huge responsibility to uplift our communities. The church members also pray for the people that come here to get food so that their lives can be better. We do not want to feed their stomachs only but we deal with emotional wellbeing as well. We pray for them to get jobs and we know that a plate of food is not going to solve all of their problems,” he said.

Dr Zibi said he had been rendering his medical services in Khayelitsha for more than 20 years, but now he has turned his focus more on developmental matters. He said the church also runs youth empowerment programmes.

He said one of their missions is to build an educare centre at the church.