SALOCHANA Moodley devoted her life to the care of children and women. Picture: Supplied

FRIENDS, family, former colleagues and government officials gathered on Thursday to pay tribute to community activist Salochana Moodley, for her life-long contribution to uplifting the plight of thousands of children and women.

Moodley, 66, died on December 23 after being hospitalised with a stroke.

She retired as director of the Child Welfare Chatsworth NGO in April after 45 years of service.

Speakers at the memorial event held at Havenside, Chatsworth, reflected glowingly on Moodley’s selflessness, devotion, “sense of community”, and being a mentor to many.

Siloshnie Naicker, a former project manager at the NGO, who was orphaned at age nine, spoke of Moodley’s “guiding hand” throughout her life.

“I came under the care of Sulochana (Moodley) as my social worker at CWC, I was nine at the time.

“She guided me through childhood, to completing my matric, and landing a job with the organisation as an auxiliary social worker. I was there for about 12 years.

“I recently completed a degree in education to teach in the foundation phase.”

Naicker said Moodley was also very involved in her personal life, including raising her children.

“She touched the lives of many people. Often, I would accompany her on various outreach projects. Sulochana was very committed to her work, spent long hours at the facility, and she also inspired me to serve others,” said Naicker.

Nelisha Pillay, Moodley’s niece, said her aunt’s death was a huge loss to society.

“I am amazed at how she made time for everyone who needed her assistance.

“My aunt never had children but she cared for me and my brother Shalin as her own.

“She came from humble beginnings and made it her purpose in life to serve others,” said Pillay.

IFP MPL Les Govender said Moodley espoused the true values of a social worker who practiced “from the heart and whose only recompense was knowing she brought hope to those in the depths of despair”.

“She was an unsung heroine in the community of Chatsworth.

“Her inimitable legacy of caring and compassion will live on in the smiles of children and in the strength of women who she has assisted in her many years of selfless service to the community,” said Govender.

Community activist Devan Pillay who has been associated with with Moodley since the 1990’s said she was a rare breed of social worker who loved children and dedicated her life to the CWC.

“The majority of CWC’s programmes, which championed children’s rights, were her brainchild. The best thing was that she never sought the limelight for the work she did,” said Pillay.

DAILY NEWS