Emgazini single mother of seven children, Nosihle Buthelezi, was recently overwhelmed by the arrival of a team of local NGOs and their commitment to assist her and her children following the destruction of their home.
“I don’t know what to say, I have no words,” wept Buthelezi, who told The Ladysmith Herald that being unemployed and raising seven children on a small grant is a continuous battle for survival.
Several local organisations and NGOs such as Duduza Care, the Al-Imdaad Foundation, Alfred Duma and uThukela municipalities, TBHIVCare, Sukuma Sakhe, Nazoke Tanami, Phila, She Conquers as well as the Department of Health, donated food hampers, school supplies and materials for the reconstruction of the single mother’s home which was destroyed in a devastating storm in 2020.
“With the huge storm of 2020, I had lost all hope as my home and many of my belongings were destroyed.” Buthelezi said that she did not have the money to buy the material to fix her home but they managed to stay inside the house for a while. “But we were told that the house is unstable and it would be better if we move into two one-room rondavels, which were still usable.”
TBHIVCare auxiliary worker, Samukelisiwe Sithole, said to have seen a mother struggle like this was heartbreaking, “Because a happy mother is indeed a happy home and with the help of local NGOs and the Al-Imdaad Foundation with all the other vital groups, here today we are hoping to make Nosihle a happy mother with a happy home.”
Buthelezi said that her husband and the father of their children passed away and since then it has been an uphill struggle.
The group of NGOs was led by Department of Health official, Mkhonto Blose, who added that the NGOs will keep following up on the progress of the family. “This is not a once-off visit, but with officials like the Al-Imdaad Foundation, TBHIVCare and the others you see here, change will be brought to this mother’s life.” Duduza Care also committed their assistance and will help rebuild the home.
