Charlene Drotsky (34), a stay-at-home mom from Klerksdorp, North West, was involved in a hit-and-run accident on 2 April 2022, while on holiday with her fiancé, Corné Viljoen (39) in Malmesbury, Cape Town.
After spending a night out with friends, a man with a bakkie offered to give Charlene and her friends a lift home. Charlene, who was the last one to be dropped off that night, could never have imagined what would happen next.
When Charlene arrived at her destination and tried to exit the vehicle, the driver reversed unexpectedly, trapping Charlene’s left leg under the front wheel of the vehicle.
Instead of stopping to help Charlene, who cried out in pain, the panicked driver tried to make his escape, driving over Charlene’s waist with the front and back tyre of his vehicle, before leaving her in severe pain on the road.
Charlene Drotsky before the accident
Hearing the commotion outside, Corné rushed to Charlene’s side and phoned emergency services. The driver had already vanished.
“When I saw what has happened to my fiancé, I thought it was over for her. I saw her getting pulled in under a bakkie, I saw her getting dragged into the road. I can still hear her screaming for help as I tried my best to fight the driver to switch off his bakkie, but I was too weak,”
“I managed to run a few metres away from the vehicle towards her as I thought he drove over her head. I remember I started shouting and screaming at God, asking him to please not let my fiancé die,”
Multiple Injuries
After her ordeal, Charlene was treated for critical injuries at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town.
She sustained multiple injuries including a broken scapula, pelvis and several broken ribs. She also suffered internal bleeding that resulted in her contracting septicemia and had bleeding on her lungs that needed to be drained. Due to the damage to Charlene’s pelvis, she also lost the function of her left leg.
“Charlene is a wonderful mother and a kind-hearted person who didn’t deserve to be discarded the way she was. This incident has devastated our family, especially Charlene’s two boys, Cayden (13) and Calden (9), who weren’t convinced that she survived the ordeal. They don’t understand what has happened and cry daily for her to come home” – says Charlene’s sister, Marcelle
Update:
On Friday, 19 August 2022, after almost 5 months in hospital, Charlene sadly succumbed to her injuries after her hit-and-run accident.
After days of struggling with her protein levels and getting Refeeding syndrome, Charlene’s condition turned critical. Her blood pressure skyrocketed, her breathing became short and fast, she struggled to recognise loved ones, and then finally her organs began to fail.
Our hearts go out to Charlene’s husband Corné, their two boys Cayden and Calden, her sister Marcelle, as well as everyone who knew and loved Charlene.
“Charlene faught so hard for so long. She was a real warrior. My heart is shattered. I didn’t just lose my sister, I lost my mom and my best friend too. She’s was everything to me. She took me in when we lost our mom. I don’t know how I’ll cope but I will keep strong for her kids and I promised her I will always love then as they were my own” -says Marcelle
Crowdfunding on BackaBuddy
In April 2022, Marcelle, Charlene’s sister launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, that raised over R50 000 through kind contributions from over 42 donors, which became a lifeboat for the family, who struggled to cover Charlene’s extensive medical costs as she didn’t have medical aid.
“The most difficult thing is feeling hopeless and helpless when someone you love is struggling or in pain. We couldn’t be more thankful for the love and support we were shown after Charlene’s horrific ordeal” – says Marcelle
If anyone would like to support Charlene’s family as they come to terms with their insurmountable loss, any additional funds raised, will be used to help cover the cost of Charlene’s funeral and support her family with anything they may need during this painful time.
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far raised over R323 Million.
“When I am with the choir, I feel like somebody who is worth something.”
Rachel’s face lit up as she uttered these words. At 14 years old she is one of 40 young members of the Junior Rosa Choir, established by the Cape Cultural Collective in 2016.
The Cape Cultural Collective focuses on communities in the City of Cape Town. The CCC unites communities and promotes personal and community development through the Arts.
The children who are between the ages of 10 and 14 reside in Manenberg, Langa, Kalksteenfontein, Gugulethu, Hangberg and Imizamo Yethu. Many of their families face a daily struggle for survival. They battle to make a living and put food on the table. Some experience the trauma of gang violence.
For a few hours every week, they can relax and experience the joy of singing together without restraint. They gather for practice under the guidance of a qualified music teacher, singing in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa. The excitement and the energy are palpable as the young ones express themselves in their regular sanctuary.
Their confidence and self-esteem grow visibly. Singing together breaks down cultural, language and spatial divisions. Music improves their learning abilities and promotes harmony among the singers. They also participate in performances, an annual concert and a summer camp.
The partners in the initiative are the CCC and the Denis Goldberg House of Hope, an arts development centre in Hout Bay inspired by the late Rivonia trialist who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 along with Nelson Mandela and others.
About 16 children from the Hangberg and Imizamo Yethu communities are part of the choir.
Transporting Talent
One of our biggest needs to ensure the sustainability of the Junior Rosa Choir is transport, which accounts for about half of the choir’s expenses annually.
To help cover the fuel costs for the remainder of the year, estimated to cost R30 000, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched on BackaBuddy, so that the children can continue their magical experience of singing, developing and moving around the City.
“Transportation is expensive. Some of the factors that drive up the costs of transport are high petrol prices and long distances which result from the legacy of spatial arrangements during the time of segregation.” – says Kay Jaffer, Founder of the Junior Rosa Choir
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far raised over R320 Million.
On Tuesday, 12 April 2022, during the torrential rains and flooding that devastated the most part of KwaZulu-Natal, Shakirah, a young girl, aged 10, had her entire world ripped from her, in the most unspeakable and unutterable manner.
During the early hours of the morning, at about 04:00, at their home near the Palmiet Nature Reserve in Westville, Haji, aged 34, his wife Halima, aged 29, and their 10 month old baby, Kevin, died in a horrific mudslide, when the bank and retaining wall behind their home collapsed, destroying their home, and claiming their lives.
Miraculously, their 10 year old daughter, Shakirah survived.
The bodies of Haji, Halima and Kevin were only recovered more than 12 hours later at approximately 17:00, after the Malawian community came together to physically dig, not stopping until they were found.
Haji was retrieved first, under more than 2 metres of mud, thereafter Kevin, and then Halima.
Shakirah lost not only every little possession she ever owned, but everything and everyone close to her heart. Her entire world has been taken from her, in the most treacherous circumstances. Shakirah has been forced to face life without the only people who have always been there for her, loved her and cared for her.
Shakirah has shown utter bravery during the past few days, despite her complete heartache, and has been kept safe and homed by many of us. Her future and where she will end up, is at this stage uncertain.
We, as the families that Haji and Halima not only worked for, but whose lives were touched by them, are absolutely devastated by their deaths. The loss is deeply felt by us, and throughout our homes. Haji and Halima, became a part of our families. They genuinely cared for us, and would do anything to make our lives easier.
Shakirah’s family home was destroyed in the Durban Floods
Standing in for Shakirah
To support Shakirah’s future, and take care of her imminent needs such as clothing, school supplies, toiletries, a cell phone and the day to day basics, Jason and Vanessa Norris, Mark & Megan Sponneck, Mildred Moore (Busybee Daycare), Lenard and Lauren Hall, and Mechell Chetty have launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy.
No task was ever too much for them . We are utterly heartbroken by this tragedy. They were the most incredible family. Honest, kind and loyal. Their passing has left a huge hole in our hearts and daily lives.
Since the launch of the campaign, 212 donors have contributed more than R300 000 to support Shakirah as she comes to terms with the life-changing tragedy she has experienced.
All funds raised will be administered by a Trust, in order to fund Shakirah’s day to day needs and education.
We know that Haji and Halima would be so appreciative of any act of kindness, no matter how big or small. As Shakirah slowly starts to pick up the pieces of her life which has forever been changed, we hope to help her in whatever way we can to ease her financial burdens and to provide for her future, as her parents had previously done.
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far raised over R320 Million.
Since Monday 11 April 2022, when one of the worst floods in South Africa’s history hit Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, at least 448 individuals were killed, and the damage to property and infrastructure in the region was insurmountable.
In the wake of the destruction brought about by the persistent heavy rain the province has been experiencing, non-profit organisation, The Gift of the Givers says they have been inundated with distressing calls from individuals in need of assistance, as well as corporates wanting to lend their support to stricken communities.
To assist the needy, The Gift of the Givers has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, for those locally and abroad wanting to lend their support to struggling communities during this distressing time.
Funds raised will be used to provide hot meals, blankets, bottled water, warm clothes, sanitary pads and diapers for those in low lying areas who have lost their material possessions.
As the need arises, funds will also be used to supply communities with food parcels, school uniforms, stationery, and building materials to help repair damaged school infrastructure.
“The need of the hour is huge with massive damages to roads, highways turned into rivers, shipping containers floating on the N2, retaining walls collapsed with people trapped underneath, cars have been washed away, debris and trees blocking roads, people can’t get to work, health facilities had to reduce services, religious institutions, as well as many homes, have been damaged, electrical infrastructure is non-functional aggravating load shedding, streams have become raging rivers, people have lost their lives. Those making it to work have to carry extra shoes and socks as they walk through streams to get to transport that in turn has to negotiate high levels of water on roads.” – says Dr Imtiaz Sooliman
Donors are eligible for Section 18a tax-deductible certificates, issued by The Gift of The Givers, on request.
Create a crowdfunding campaign
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far raised over R319 Million.
Selina Kokolosi (47), a grandmother from Potchefstroom, Northwest Province, who works as a domestic worker, was attacked and grievously mauled by her employer’s three pit bulls on 25 January 2022.
The dogs, which are ordinarily locked away when Selina arrives for work, brutally attacked her as she entered the home, shredding her skin.
The attack was so severe that it alerted the neighbours, who put themselves at risk to help Selina, who lay lifeless on the floor in critical condition,
To save Selina’s life, she was rushed to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto and placed in the intensive care unit, where she spent several weeks, until she was finally discharged on 11 March 2022.
The injuries Selina has sustained are difficult to comprehend. Both her ears, her top lip, and parts of her nose were completely ripped away. Her legs, thighs and hands were also targeted by the hounds.
A life ‘destroyed’
As a result of the traumatic ordeal Selina says has ‘destroyed’ her life, she has lost vision in her right eye, and without assistance, tasks such as simple eating have become extremely difficult.
Besides her physical injuries, for which she has already undergone several surgeries, and skin graft procedures, Selina is experiencing emotional pain, as she is ‘unrecognisable’ to her loved ones, particularly her beloved grandchildren.
Speaking to the Daily News, Selina said:
“I may have survived death, but sadly, I now have to live with the fact that I am not the person my grandchildren knew. They fear being around me, they cry when they see me because they do not believe that I am their grandmother.
“The young ones who used to love me are struggling to accept me because the grandmother they knew had ears, lips, nose and looked like other human beings. Now I look completely different”
Selina’s tissue is dying
In recent months, Dr Bruce Lelala, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in Johannesburg, who has been assisting Selina with her extensive injuries, says her body tissue in the wounded areas are effectively dying off, and that she is in need of an urgent surgical procedure that could cost millions.
Dr Bruce Lelala with Selina Kokolosi.
Speaking to Daily News, Dr Lelala said:
“She has suffered a chronic non-healing wound on the right lower limb over the Achilles tendon, and extensive large defects on the bones in her legs. The patient also has some degree of lymphedema (accumulation of rich fluid from the body’s lymph system),” said Lelala.
Kind strangers support Selina
After reading Selina’s story, a Johannesburg woman, Alma McGill, launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to assist Selina with the cost of her upcoming reconstructive surgeries, rehabilitation, and other expenses that she may incur.
Since the launch of the campaign more than 130 donors have made contributions to the value of R55 000, which has been a great help to the family who is struggling to cover their mounting medical bills, and transportation costs to and from the Hospital.
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far raised over R313 Million.
