by Tessa Van Rensberg | May 19, 2026 | Press Release
Cape Town, Western Cape, A University of Cape Town student who has completed his Master of Laws degree now faces the possibility of not graduating, with just one final requirement standing between him and his qualification, and a financial block preventing him from submitting it.
Simangaliso Sithole, who is completing his LLM in Commercial Law at UCT, has fulfilled all academic requirements and is ready to submit his mini dissertation, the final step needed to graduate.
So Close to the Finish Line
After years of dedicated study, Simangaliso has reached the final stage of his degree.
“All coursework has been completed. I am literally one submission away from obtaining my qualification,” he shared.
However, an outstanding balance on his university account has resulted in a financial block, preventing him from registering for his final year and submitting his dissertation.
A Barrier Beyond Academics
The challenge Simangaliso now faces is not academic, but financial.
Without clearing the outstanding fees, he is unable to proceed, placing years of hard work and commitment at risk of going unrealised.
“This financial block remains the only barrier between me and the completion of this degree,” he explained.
A Critical Moment
The urgency of the situation lies in timing.
With everything else complete, the inability to submit his final work means his entire academic journey is effectively on hold, despite being within reach of completion.
Determined to Finish Strong
Simangaliso remains committed to completing his degree and stepping into the next phase of his career.
He has expressed his intention to honour any financial obligations once he secures stable employment, but for now, he requires support to clear the immediate hurdle.
The Final Step
For Simangaliso, this moment represents the final step in a long academic journey, one that has already required years of discipline, sacrifice, and persistence.
With support, he will be able to submit his dissertation and officially complete his Master’s degree.
If you are unable to donate, sharing his story can help reach others who can.
To support Simangaliso Sithole, visit his BackaBuddy campaign page here.
by Tessa Van Rensberg | May 15, 2026 | Fundraising Tips
Receiving your first donation on a crowdfunding campaign is an incredible moment. It means someone believes in your story, your cause, or the impact you’re trying to create. But while many campaign creators focus heavily on getting donations, the real secret to long-term success lies in what happens after someone gives.
Donor engagement doesn’t end with a contribution; it's where the relationship truly begins.
Keeping your donors informed, appreciated, and connected to your journey not only builds trust but also encourages continued support, sharing, and future giving. Whether you’re raising funds for medical care, education, sport, or a community initiative, strong donor relationships can make a lasting difference.
Here’s how to keep your donors engaged long after their first donation.
1. Say Thank You, Immediately and Sincerely
Gratitude is the foundation of donor relationships.
When someone donates, they are placing their trust in you. A sincere thank-you message shows that their contribution matters and that you appreciate their support.
This can be as simple as:
- Posting a thank-you update on your campaign page
- Sending a personal message where possible
- Acknowledging supporters publicly on social media
The key is authenticity. Donors don’t expect perfection, they simply want to know their support is valued.
2. Share Progress and Milestones
Donors love seeing how their contributions are making an impact. Use your campaign updates to celebrate progress, whether it’s reaching a percentage of your goal or achieving an important step in your journey.
For example:
- Reaching 25%, 50%, or 75% of your target
- Receiving equipment or treatment
- Starting a new phase of a project
- Preparing for an event or opportunity
Milestone updates remind donors that their support is part of something meaningful.
3. Show the Impact of Their Support
People give because they want to help create change. Whenever possible, show the tangible results of the donations you’ve received. Share photos, videos, or updates that illustrate how the funds are being used.
This might include:
- A child returning to school
- Medical treatment beginning
- A team travelling to a competition
- A project being completed
Seeing the impact of their generosity reinforces donors’ confidence in the campaign.
4. Keep Donors Involved in the Journey
Crowdfunding is about community. Instead of treating donors as once-off contributors, invite them to remain part of the story. You can do this by:
- Sharing behind-the-scenes moments
- Asking supporters to share the campaign
- Posting updates about progress and challenges
- Celebrating achievements together
When donors feel connected to the journey, they are more likely to remain engaged.
5. Be Transparent and Honest
Transparency builds trust. If plans change, challenges arise, or timelines shift, communicate openly with your supporters. Honest updates reassure donors that you respect their contributions and are committed to using funds responsibly.
Even difficult updates can strengthen relationships when handled with openness and gratitude.
6. Celebrate the Community Behind the Campaign
Every successful crowdfunding campaign is powered by people. Recognising the role of your community can help reinforce a sense of collective achievement. Consider acknowledging:
- The number of donors who supported the campaign
- Special messages from supporters
- The broader community that helped share the story
This reminds donors that they are part of something bigger than a single contribution.
7. Continue Sharing Even After the Campaign Ends
Your story doesn’t end when the fundraising goal is reached. Many donors appreciate follow-up updates that show how the journey continues. Sharing long-term outcomes, progress, or achievements helps maintain trust and leaves supporters with a lasting sense of impact.
These updates also make it easier to reconnect with your community if you launch future initiatives.
Why Donor Engagement Matters
Keeping donors engaged has benefits beyond the current campaign. When supporters feel informed and appreciated, they are more likely to:
- Share your campaign with others
- Support future fundraising efforts
- Become long-term advocates for your cause
In many cases, repeat donors are the strongest foundation of a successful fundraising journey.
Building Relationships, Not Just Donations
Crowdfunding is about more than raising money. It’s about creating a community of people who believe in the same goal and want to see it succeed. By staying connected with your supporters, showing gratitude, and sharing your progress openly, you turn donors into partners in your journey.
And when donors feel part of the story, they’re far more likely to stay involved, long after their first donation.
by Tessa Van Rensberg | May 15, 2026 | Impact Updates
Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, Malcolm Katz, a well-known and much-loved member of the Plettenberg Bay community, is facing the daily realities of living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). What began as a personal appeal through the Malcolm Katz ALS support campaign quickly became something much bigger, as people from across his community and beyond stepped forward to stand with him.
In just over a month, a BackaBuddy campaign created in his honour raised R226 883, surpassing its R200 000 goal through the generosity of 128 donors.
A Life Built on Connection
If you’ve spent time in Plettenberg Bay, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Malcolm.
For years, he was the friendly face behind the local Mugg & Bean. People remember more than just the coffee, they remember how he made them feel. Welcomed. Seen. Part of something.
That same spirit carried into every part of his life. Time with his wife Marcia, their children Danny and Limor, long walks, music, games with friends. Malcolm has always been someone who brought people together.
Living with ALS
Two years ago, Malcolm was diagnosed with ALS, a progressive condition that slowly affects movement and muscle control.
At first, the changes were subtle. Today, everyday tasks are becoming harder. He still manages short distances with a walker, but his mobility is increasingly limited.
His family began preparing for what lies ahead.
They knew that soon, Malcolm would need specialised support to remain comfortable at home, including an electric wheelchair and an adjustable care bed. Equipment that would allow him to move, rest, and continue engaging with the people and spaces he loves.
The cost of that care is significant. So they asked for help.
Malcolm’s Community Shows Up
What followed has been deeply moving.
Donations came in not just from close friends and family, but from people whose lives Malcolm had touched over the years, some in small, quiet ways that were never forgotten.
Alongside the donations came messages that tell their own story:
“To my special friend, please accept a small token of my appreciation for our friendship.”
“Malcolm and Marcia. Our families go way back. This is in honour of all the love and warmth your late mom Z”L Golda and dad Z”L Selwyn gave to my family. May Hashem watch over you all. We send love. Always.”
“I knew Malcolm as we shared a fence in Fairmount a long time ago. He was always a warm, friendly neighbour. Our family wishes him well.”
These aren’t just messages. They are reminders of a life lived with kindness, generosity, and genuine human connection. Within weeks, the campaign reached its goal and kept going.
More Than Financial Support
The funds raised will go toward essential equipment and care. But the impact goes far beyond that.
It has given Malcolm’s family breathing room during an incredibly difficult time. It has allowed them to focus on care, on time together, on being present.
And for Malcolm, it’s something even more personal, knowing that the people he has shown up for over the years are now showing up for him.
A Shared Effort
Every donation tells a story.
A customer who remembers a conversation.
A friend from years ago.
A neighbour who wanted to help in some small way.
Together, those stories have created something meaningful.
Malcolm spent years bringing people together without ever expecting anything in return. Now, that same community is standing beside him.
Continuing the Journey
Although the initial goal has been reached, Malcolm’s journey with ALS is ongoing. His needs will continue to evolve over time, and support will remain an important part of that journey.
For those who would like to contribute or follow along, the campaign remains open.
👉 Visit the campaign page to support Malcolm
Sharing his story can also help reach someone who may want to stand alongside him and his family.
Launch your own crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy
Stories like Malcolm’s remind us how powerful community support can be, whether it’s for medical care, education, emergencies, or helping someone through a difficult season. BackaBuddy has helped raise over R630 million for causes across South Africa.
by Tessa Van Rensberg | May 15, 2026 | Impact Updates
A cancer crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy is helping 21-year-old Courtney Butler and her family navigate the overwhelming emotional and financial realities that often come with a cancer diagnosis. In just over a month, supporters helped Courtney’s campaign raise more than R56 000, surpassing its original goal and giving her family much-needed financial relief as she begins treatment.
A Young Woman Facing an Unexpected Diagnosis
Courtney Butler is a daughter, sister, and friend whose life changed suddenly after being diagnosed with cancer at just 21 years old. For her family, the diagnosis started the journey no parent ever feels prepared for.
As Courtney started navigating consultations, treatment planning, and the uncertainty that comes with serious illness, the financial pressure quickly became impossible to ignore. The costs linked to cancer care continue to grow and include:
- Chemotherapy and medication
- Specialist consultations
- Ongoing treatment
- Potential surgery in Cape Town
- Travel and accommodation costs for Courtney and her family
Like many South African families facing a medical crisis, the Butler family found themselves trying to balance emotional survival with financial strain.
Cancer Crowdfunding on BackaBuddy Gains Support
To help ease some of that burden, family friend Mariet Schroder launched a cancer crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy. The response was immediate and deeply emotional. Within weeks:
- R56 756 was raised
- 114% of the campaign goal was reached
- Supporters from across the community contributed messages, encouragement, and donations
The impact was an incredible testament to the love Courtney’s community carried for her. Alongside the donations came messages of love and support from people wanting Courtney and her family to know they were not alone in this fight.
More Than Medical Costs
For many families, crowdfunding during illness becomes about more than financial assistance. It creates breathing room during moments that feel impossible to manage alone. Every contribution toward Courtney’s campaign helped reduce one more layer of stress, allowing her parents to focus less on bills and more on supporting their daughter through treatment. And for those donating, the campaign created a way to show up meaningfully during a deeply difficult time.
Why Cancer Crowdfunding Matters
A medical crowdfunding campaign often becomes a bridge between vulnerability and support. When someone receives a serious diagnosis, friends, family, and even strangers want to help, but often don’t know how.
Crowdfunding creates a practical way for people to contribute, whether through donations, sharing the campaign, or simply reminding a family that they are being held by a wider community. Courtney’s story is also a reminder that support is rarely built through one grand gesture. Instead, it grows through many smaller acts of kindness coming together at the right moment.
👉 Get the Guide: If you’re thinking about launching a medical crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, here’s everything you need to know.
Holding Onto Hope Through Uncertainty
While Courtney’s treatment journey is still unfolding, the campaign has already made a meaningful difference to her family. The support they’ve received has helped lighten the emotional weight that so often accompanies serious illness, especially for young adults facing uncertain futures. And in moments where fear can easily take over, knowing that people care can become its own form of strength.
Start Your Own Crowdfunding Campaign on BackaBuddy
Whether you’re raising funds for medical treatment, education, community initiatives, animal welfare, or personal challenges, BackaBuddy gives South Africans a trusted space to ask for support when it matters most.
by Tessa Van Rensberg | May 6, 2026 | Impact Updates
George, Western Cape, The Marlene Heeringa final wish fundraiser began with a simple but deeply meaningful request: to help a mother spend time with her children in Germany after receiving devastating news about her health.
In just two months, 29 donors came together to raise over R60 000, surpassing the original R40 000 goal and turning that final wish into a reality.
You can learn more about similar journeys right here on our platform.
A Journey Marked by Strength
Marlene’s story stretches back to 2017, when she was first diagnosed with rectal cancer. After multiple surgeries and the life-changing adjustment of a stoma bag, she rebuilt her life and continued forward with resilience. For years, she lived fully, carrying on with the same selflessness her family knew so well.
Her daughter Tanya describes her simply:
“She is one of the world’s best treasures, always thinking of everyone and always putting herself last.”
When the Cancer Returned
Last year, things began to change. What started as back pain slowly revealed something far more serious. After further tests, the family received the news they had hoped would never come, the cancer had returned and had already spread. This time, the focus shifted.
Not to treatment plans or long-term recovery, but to time.
To presence.
To being together.
A Simple, Powerful Wish
When Tanya asked her mom what she wanted most, the answer was immediate: To spend time with her children in Germany. Not something extravagant. Not something complicated. Just time with family. But making that journey possible required financial support, something the family could not manage alone. So Tanya did something incredibly vulnerable. She asked for help.
29 People Made It Happen
What followed was quiet, but powerful. 29 donors stepped in. Some gave what they could. Others shared the story so it could reach further. Together, they raised over R60 000, more than enough to make the trip possible.
It wasn’t a large crowd.
It wasn’t a viral moment.
But it was enough. And that’s what mattered.
What This Support Really Means
This campaign was never about money alone. It was about giving a mother the chance to:
- Be surrounded by her children
- Create final memories together
- Share moments that time would otherwise take away
When someone is facing the reality that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, these moments become everything.
The Power of Showing Up
The Marlene Heeringa final wish crowdfunding campaign is a reminder that impact doesn’t require thousands of people. Sometimes, it takes just a handful of individuals choosing to care. 29 people made sure a family didn’t have to carry this moment alone. 29 people helped turn a wish into something real.
Why These Stories Matter
There are many families quietly facing similar moments, where time becomes the most valuable thing they have. Crowdfunding creates a way for others to step in, to share the weight, and to make something meaningful possible when it matters most.
It doesn’t take much.
But it does take people.
