Elias Dlamini a plumber from Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal tragically lost his wife, son, home and everything he owned, in the violent floods that affected the coast on the early morning of 12 April 2022.
While Elias was able to rescuetwo of his sons from the debris, the aftermath of a devastating landslide, and they are currently receiving medical treatment for their injuries, he was unable to find his 11-year-old son and wife in time.
Uplifting Elias
To help Elias in his time of need, the company he works for, AllPlumb Projects Pty Ltd, launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, with a fundraising target of R200 000, hoping the public would open their hearts to help him get back on his feet.
“This man has done nothing but good, he works hard, is of sober habits, he is a man of very few words but shines through his smile. This is an absolute tragedy that should never happen to such a wonderful person.” says his employer and friend, Justin Allison from AllPlumb Projects Pty Ltd.
With overwhelming support from 77 donors, more than R170 000 were kindly donated to Elias, who is still coming to terms with the life-changing tragedy he has experienced.
He hopes to rebuild his humble home and care for his surviving sons with continued support.
“Please help this good man who has been through hell. Every little bit counts. Any remaining funds will be used for groceries and school fees for his surviving children,” says Justin.
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.
Janelle (27) and Bianca Barnard (24) from uMdloti, Kwa-Zulu Natal, have launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to restore their family home of 28-years that was destroyed in Durban floods on 21 May 2022.
In the aftermath of the floods, the sisters shared an emotional appeal for support:
“We shared 28 years of treasured memories in our family home that our parents built. In less than 24 hours, that home was destroyed.
Our hearts are as heavy as the mud that stands up to our ceilings as we write this. An unyielding reminder of the devastation we’ve endured.
It is a surreal sight – red sand engulfed most of our possessions. Most painfully, irreplaceable family heirlooms and albums of the last pictures we have of our parents sit submerged under the mud.
We have lost nearly all of our material possessions, but we have not yet lost hope, even though it is being worn down to its foundations by the weight of wet sand.
We are no strangers to picking up pieces and having to start over. My sister and I lost our mother, our last living parent, unexpectedly in 2019.
The two of us have been trying to hold everything together as best as we can. But we are just two, and the pieces are becoming too heavy to carry on our own” – says Bianca
Since the launch of their crowdfunding campaign on 23 May 2022, more than R80 000 has been raised through kind contributions from 52 donors, towards their fundraising target of R200 000.
“We are appealing to everyone to help us gain some stability in what feels like living in quicksand. If we stand still, we will sink. If you are able to assist in any way we are appealing to you to help us move forward. To help us rebuild our family home – the same home our parents built 28 years ago.” – says Janelle
Janelle and Bianca have lost their family home and all their treasures as a result of the floods
While their home is insured, and insurance will help alleviate some of the financial pressure they are experiencing, the Barnard sisters desperately need to find temporary housing, begin clearing the devastation, hire 24-hour security for the shell that remains, as well as replace a few personal items claimed in the flood.
“ We have been blown away by the overwhelming support we’ve received not only from our friends and family via BackaBuddy, but also from complete strangers. The immense support is what has kept us moving forward“ – says Janelle
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.
Rays of Hope, a non-profit organization based in Alexandra, Johannesburg, is hoping to raise R1 million to grow its team of social workers who play a pivotal role in empowering vulnerable residents who live in the township
“When you’re sick, a doctor can assess the problem and give you a diagnosis and prescription, and when you’re struggling emotionally, you can speak to a good friend or even a psychologist,” explains Bertha Muchadeyi, Social Work and Vulnerable Programmes Manager at Rays of Hope.
“But who do you speak to when life happens, and you don’t know who to turn to for help or where to find the practical information you need to get your life back on track?
“That’s where social workers come in – they are specially trained professionals who can think critically about challenges and design and implement solutions that are relevant to each person’s needs so that they can overcome the challenges they face,” she says.
The demand for social workers is enormous in a South African context, where unemployment, gender-based violence, sexuality and teenage pregnancy plague our society. Despite this, many people facing these challenges do not know what social workers can do for them or even how to find one.
While Rays of Hope has expanded its social worker pool to serve the Alexandra community, the need is much greater than the funding available to support it – despite the fact that many of its social workers provide their services for free.
“We also believe that social workers should earn more than the R5,000 that is common within environments like Alexandra, making our goal a dual one: that of employing more social workers to support the community, and of paying them a salary that recognises their skill and importance,” she adds.
By employing more social workers in Alexandra, they can help everyone in the community build a better future, whether that is by counselling families in mental and physical health, connecting indigent families with aid organizations, assisting them in overcoming addictions, or providing job opportunities and skill training.
Rays of Hopes has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to help cover their running costs, which are estimated to be R1 000 000 this year alone.
Securing much-needed funds will allow the organization to expand its resources and assist more individuals in the community.
“So many of Alexandra’s residents are stuck in the same cycles of gender-based violence, unemployment, and poverty that their parents and grandparents were,” Bertha says.
“We know that a dedicated team of social workers can help break these cycles and give people the tools, knowledge and confidence that they need to move beyond the legacies of this township.
“We’re appealing to Johannesburg’s people – most of whom engage with an Alex resident every day of their lives – to help make this a reality. No contribution is too small, and every contribution will help make a positive difference to this community, to their future, and to the future of the city,” John Shuttleworth, interim CEO of Rays of Hope, adds.
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 risen over R350 Million.
Eliza Mussa (30) an au pair originally from Lunzu, a township outside of Blantyre in Malawi, got a distressing call from her loved ones that her home was destroyed by the deadly tropical cyclone ‘Ana’ in late January.
The storm which lasted a week and left behind a path of destruction, nearly claimed the lives of Hanna, Eliza’s sister, and her 4 children who were staying at the home, as their home was destroyed by a similar storm in 2016.
As the home is now inhabitable, Hanna and her children sought refuge at a primary school, before being housed by warm-hearted samaritans.
For the past 8 years, Eliza has lived in Lakeside, South Africa, diligently saving extra monies to build her safe haven in her hometown, where she planned to retire to in her old age, along with her two children Fatima (10) and Nazim (3).
Eliza is heartbroken that her years of hard work have been erased, but she is thankful for the safety of her family and maintains the sunny disposition she is known and loved for.
“When Eliza came to work in tears one morning and showed me the pictures of her house, which had been destroyed in the storm, it struck me how unfair life can be. She told me about how she had worked so hard to repay the money that she had borrowed to build it in the first place. Then overnight a storm destroyed her house, and she doesn’t have insurance to pay for the costs to rebuild it”, says Jessie.
“Eliza comes to work every day with a smile. Even after her house was destroyed, she was there, playing with my daughter Leah and making her giggle. She is a lovely person; we trust her immensely”, says Jessie, her employer.
Rebuilding brick by brick
To help rebuild Eliza’s home, Jessie has launched a crowdfunding campaign with a fundraising target of R50 000, to cover the materials and labour needed to restore the humble home to its former glory.
Since the campaign launched, over R21 000 has been raised on BackaBuddy to support the family through this difficult time, with contributions from 21 donors, both locally and abroad.
“It is so nice how people have helped me with this crowdfunding campaign. A huge thank you for the campaign and for everyone who has donated, I really appreciate it. I could never have raised this money myself. I hope we can raise our target of R50 000 so that I can rebuild my house and one day go back and live there with my kids.” says Eliza.
Photo credit: Jessie with her daughter Leah and Eliza
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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.
“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.
