Penwell Dlamini

Penwell Dlamini

Mapaseka Seoka might be behind bars for allegedly killing her two children but her story has helped 1800 families of her community in the Hospital Hills and Lawley informal settlements.

The people of these povertystricken communities had something to smile about when they received free food parcels from sympathisers.

Sowetan published a story about Seoka, 26, who was arrested for allegedly killing her nine-day-old daughter Ditlhoriso with a pair of scissors just 24 hours after strangling her 14-month-old son Lebogang.

She told police she had killed her children because she was poor and could not take care of them.

But yesterday people who had read about Seoka's arrest in Sowetan delivered food parcels to the community where she had lived.

The food parcels were from the South African Turkish Businessmen's Association and the Fountain Education Trust in partnership with the Gauteng department of social development.

Each household in Hospital Hills and Lawley informal settlements received a box containing sugar, cooking oil, tea, rice, mealie meal, macaroni and chocolates.

Gauteng MEC for social development Kgaogelo Lekgoro said they were touched by Seoka's story and had to do something immediately.