Med-Lemon spreads warmth and care with MES at the Impilo Shelter this Mandela Day
Image: Supplied
Homelessness in South Africa has a familiar face. In a country where youth unemployment stands at 45.5%, and an estimated 15% of the population suffers from drug addiction, many are left vulnerable to a life on the streets. In fact, across the world today, studies are showing that many people are just one salary, or one crisis away from homelessness. Today it could be a stranger; tomorrow a friend, neighbour, or family member facing the perils of being without shelter – let alone a place to call home.
Amid this harsh reality, organisations like MES are working tirelessly to bring about change and restore dignity to the lives of hundreds of South Africans grappling with destitution.
In commemoration of Nelson Mandela Day, Med-Lemon joined forces with MES at its Impilo Shelter in Jeppestown, Johannesburg, to spread warmth and care to young adults housed at the shelter.
At the heart of this initiative is the brand's 'Hero Blanket,' made from knitted squares lovingly created by Med-Lemon and Haleon staff. As a global leader in consumer health, Haleon delivers everyday health with humanity through its portfolio of brands, including Med-Lemon. Combining deep human understanding and trusted science, Haleon SA aims to serve the needs of local communities through self-care products, continuing a trusted legacy of empowering millions of people toward effective self-care practices.
50 of the handmade blankets were gifted to beneficiaries, along with a warm bowl of soup and bread. This collective creation symbolises the compassion, care and togetherness that Haleon espouses.
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More than just a meal
Founded in 1986 in the heart of Hillbrow by the Dutch Reformed Church, MES initially focused on meal provision through its evangelical roots. However, as needs evolved, so did its mission – now centred on 'Mould Empower Serve.'
'This shelter provides overnight and short-term accommodation for people in desperate need. For just R20, we offer a bed and three meals a day,' said Thabiso Ramasike, Acting CEO at MES. 'But we realised early on that a providing a meal alone isn't enough. Homelessness strips people of their dignity. Our mission is to restore that dignity through structured programmes that equip individuals with life skills, psychosocial support, and ultimately, a path to reintegration.'
MES runs shelters in Johannesburg, Kempton Park, Gqeberha, and Cape Town, with outreach programmes designed to bring people in from the streets. Once engaged, social workers assess their needs and place them into structured six-week programmes, with the ultimate goal to help them exit the system and regain independence.
'At any given time, our shelters are housing 300-400 people overnight collectively. The idea is not to house more, but to house fewer because they are exiting the system stronger and better off,' Ramasike added.
Image: Supplied
Warmth in every stitch
'At Med-Lemon, we've long been trusted to bring warmth and relief to those battling colds and flu across the country,' said Bronwyn Hughes, Brand Manager for Med-Lemon at Haleon. 'Through this heartfelt initiative, we're honoured to extend that comfort in a more tangible way - by providing warm, specially knitted blankets to the beneficiaries at Impilo. Beyond warmth, this effort also supported skills development, with our knitting partners leading a meaningful educational session that empowered participants with both knowledge and connection.'
Hughes added that Med-Lemon looks forward to expanding the initiative across the country – reaching more communities and reminding people experiencing homelessness that they are seen, valued, and supported.
Nonhlanhla Zulu, Unit Leader for Outreach and Social Relief at Impilo Shelter emphasised the pivotal role external support played. 'When brands like Med-Lemon reach out, it means the world. Remember, we are a non-profit organisation, we can't do this alone, and every bit of support goes a long way. And for our beneficiaries, it affirms that they haven't been forgotten.'
As South Africans honour Nelson Mandela's legacy this July, initiatives like Med-Lemon's act of service at Impilo Shelter serve as powerful reminders that restoring hope and dignity is a collective effort. Every stitch in a blanket, every meal served, and every hand extended reaffirms that change is possible – when we choose to see and uplift one another.
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I've never even seen one [manager] coming and saying, 'How do you feel about the dust?' We're experiencing dust and even houses are cracking from blasting. 'So there's no one from their management side who addressed people about such things. More especially, this issue of pollution, I think it's an [especially] bad thing in this location, in this community, is very bad.' Patricia said that they might be unwell themselves, but they don't have the money to go to a doctor, so they ignore their symptoms. Simphiwe Maseko Simphiwe Maseko's 14-year-old daughter, Thando Nkosi, is not allowed to take part in sport. 'She doesn't play anything. She doesn't run. Once she starts running, she coughs. She doesn't participate in anything because we are scared; maybe if she can participate in sports, athletics and whatnot, she just comes back sick. So that's why we forbid her to take part.' 'She gets sick all the time. 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We are complaining about a lot of things, especially the mines. Our lives are ruined.' Daily Maverick has previously reported that in October 2024, the national air quality officer at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Patience Gwaze, said efforts were under way to enhance actions and improve the quality of air in the country through declared priority areas, metropolitan areas and air quality hotspots. However, despite interventions undertaken since 2006, not much improvement has been achieved in the areas of concern. Gwaze said air pollution continued to be a leading national environmental human health risk. Daily Maverick reached out to Gwaze and the department for comment. Our request was acknowledged but a response thereafter was not received. Seriti Resources, one of the owners of a local mine, said in response to questions from Daily Maverick, 'We recognise the potential impacts that our operations can have on surrounding communities, and we are committed to minimising any negative effects while actively contributing towards a positive and sustainable future for all. 'We have invested significantly in a range of environmental management initiatives to reduce our footprint. These include advanced dust suppression technologies to limit airborne pollutants, comprehensive water management systems to ensure efficient and responsible use of water resources and continuous air quality monitoring to comply with strict environmental standards. We also ensure compliance to relevant legislation and environmental regulations.' 'We appreciate the concerns raised and remain open to constructive dialogue that helps us improve and better serve our communities.' The story of Thubelihle is illuminating in that it tells the story of how a confluence of failures, pollution, non-responsiveness by authorities and generalised, ailing service delivery finds confluence in the coughs of a child and the death of a young woman. Though Thubelihle may be one place on a map, there are many such communities across South Africa where the constitutional right to a healthy environment is trampled on and disregarded day in, day out. And while politicians and ministers in Cabinet talk about the injustice of job losses in the coal value chain, they are conveniently deaf to the plight and pleas of the people in these communities who assert – in between harsh coughs and wheezes – that they don't feel that they benefit today and that there is no justice for them. DM
