by Tessa Van Rensberg | Feb 20, 2026 | Press Release
Randburg, South Africa: An extraordinary wave of community support has emerged following the passing of David Sejobe, a long-serving front-of-house security officer at the MultiChoice Randburg office, whose warmth, kindness, and humanity left a lasting impression on all who encountered him.
In response to his passing, colleagues and community members launched a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign to support the Sejobe family during this time of loss. Within just three days, the campaign raised over R400,000, surpassing its original R20,000 goal by more than 2,000%, through contributions from over 1,038 unique donors, reflecting the profound impact David had on those around him.
David had been a familiar and cherished presence at the MultiChoice Randburg office since 2015. Known for his welcoming smile and genuine care for others, he consistently created moments of connection that went far beyond his professional role. For many colleagues and visitors, David was a daily source of encouragement, someone who made people feel seen, valued, and uplifted.
Tributes shared by donors describe him as a “ray of sunshine”, a deeply selfless individual, and a man whose compassion and faith guided the way he treated others. Many contributors noted that even brief interactions with David left a lasting impression, underscoring how quietly and consistently he lived out his values.
The funds raised through the campaign will assist with any additional expenses, as well as provide immediate support to David’s family as they navigate the emotional and practical realities of their loss. Organisers emphasise that the campaign was created to ensure the family does not face this difficult period alone.
While the financial goal was modest, the response has been overwhelming, transforming the campaign into a collective act of remembrance and solidarity. The scale of support has offered comfort not only to the family, but also to colleagues and community members seeking a meaningful way to honour David’s life.
With 11 days remaining in the campaign, organisers continue to encourage those who are able to contribute or share the campaign, noting that every gesture of support helps sustain the family in the weeks ahead.
To support the Family, visit the BackaBuddy campaign link here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/supporting-the-sejobe-family-in-memory-of-david
by Community | Feb 18, 2026 | Faith-based Tips
Ramadan in South Africa is a time of deep generosity. From feeding schemes at the masjid to zakat collections in local communities, giving becomes part of daily life. Plates are filled, hands are extended, and hearts are softened. But many urgent needs sit beyond the mosque walls. Families facing medical emergencies. Learners are unable to pay school fees. Community kitchens in informal settlements are running out of food. Small NGOs stretched beyond capacity. The spirit of Ramadan is strong — but traditional fundraising methods can sometimes limit how far that generosity reaches. Cash-based collections, geographic boundaries, and once-off giving often mean that incredible goodwill doesn’t always extend as widely or last as long as it could.
That’s where crowdfunding comes in.
Platforms like BackaBuddy allow South Africans to extend the spirit of Ramadan beyond physical spaces, enabling communities to give together, online, transparently, and at scale.
Why Crowdfunding Works Especially Well During Ramadan
🌙 Ease of Giving
Supporters can donate anytime, anywhere — after taraweeh, during sehri, or on Laylatul Qadr.
🤲 Collective Impact
Many small donations add up to powerful, life-changing outcomes.
🔍 Transparency & Trust
Donors can see live totals, campaign progress, and real-time updates — building confidence in where their contributions are going.
🌱 Sadaqah That Lasts
Recurring donations transform once-off generosity into sustained impact, supporting causes long after Ramadan ends. With BackaBuddy, crowdfunding becomes a digital extension of community giving — built for South African payment preferences and realities.
How to Run a Successful Ramadan Crowdfunding Campaign
If you’re considering launching a campaign this Ramadan, here are practical steps to help you succeed:
1. Start With a Clear, Heartfelt Story
Use your campaign page to explain:
- Who you’re helping
- Why this cause matters
- How Ramadan connects to the need
BackaBuddy allows rich text, images, and videos to bring your story to life.
2. Make Giving Friction-Free
Enable multiple payment methods — card, EFT, debit order, and PayPal — so no one is excluded from giving. The easier it is to donate, the more likely people are to act.
3. Offer Recurring Ramadan Giving
Invite supporters to give weekly or monthly throughout Ramadan (and beyond). Recurring donations turn Ramadan generosity into ongoing sadaqah.
4. Turn Supporters Into Champions
With Champion Fundraising, community members can create their own mini-campaigns and share within their networks — multiplying reach and impact.
5. Share Progress Throughout the Month
Post updates:
- After iftaars
- On Fridays
- During the last ten nights
- On Laylatul Qadr
Momentum builds inspiration.
6. Track Every Rand Transparently
Log offline donations, including cash or mosque collections, alongside online donations to provide a complete, transparent total. Trust grows when supporters can see the full picture.
Ramadan-Specific Crowdfunding Ideas in South Africa
Ramadan campaigns can support a wide range of urgent and long-term needs, including:
- Ramadan food parcel campaigns for township families
- Iftaar-for-all drives supporting community kitchens
- Zakat for medical emergencies (cancer care, surgery, chronic illness)
- School fees and uniform funds before Term 2
- Water relief for drought-affected communities
- Orphan and foster care support
- Eid gift campaigns for children in under-resourced areas
- NGO sustainability funds covering operating costs
- Wheelchairs and mobility aids
- Baby care packs (nappies, formula, essentials)
- Mental health counselling access
- Refugee and migrant support
- Sadaqah jariyah projects (water tanks, libraries, skills programmes)
- Laylatul Qadr giving challenges using live totals
Each of these works powerfully through crowdfunding because donors can see momentum in real time, share links instantly, and participate collectively.
How BackaBuddy Supports Ramadan Giving
BackaBuddy offers features designed to strengthen trust and scale impact:
- Organisation landing pages for housing multiple Ramadan campaigns
- Campaign-based fundraising for specific nights or causes
- Champion Fundraising for peer-to-peer reach
- Recurring donation functionality
- Donor dashboards promoting transparency
- Live totals that motivate giving during key Ramadan moments
The goal is simple: reduce friction, increase trust, and make it easier for communities to give together.
Take the Spirit of Ramadan Further
This Ramadan, don’t let generosity stop at the mosque door. Whether you’re a registered organisation, a community group, or an individual with a cause close to your heart, crowdfunding on BackaBuddy allows you to share blessings wider, faster, and more sustainably. Start your Ramadan crowdfunding campaign today. Because when giving is easy, transparent, and collective, barakah multiplies.
by Tessa Van Rensberg | Feb 13, 2026 | BackaBuddy News, Impact Updates
When generosity moves across categories, visibility matters more than ever.
When someone donates on BackaBuddy, it can feel like a single act.
One campaign.
One story.
One moment.
But generosity on our platform is never isolated. At any given time, thousands of campaigns across multiple categories are being supported, different communities, different needs, different seasons of urgency. What donors don’t always see, unless we show them – is the broader ecosystem their contribution strengthens. And that visibility matters. Because trust is not built through a single update. It is built through consistent, category-wide transparency.
The Bigger Picture: Category-Level Momentum
Behind every individual campaign sits a wider network of care. Since the beginning of the year, donations have flowed across health, education, sport, memorial campaigns, animal welfare, and disaster response, each one reinforcing platform-wide trust.
Here’s a snapshot of what that momentum looks like:
Top Health & Medical Campaigns – January ’26
Medical campaigns consistently see some of the highest engagement and repeat giving across the platform.
When health is urgent, communities respond quickly.
But urgency also demands clarity. Donors deserve consistent updates showing how support translates into treatment, recovery, and dignity.
Top Education & Training Campaigns – January ’26
Education giving doesn’t always trend loudly, but it compounds powerfully.
These donors are investing in long-term outcomes. Which makes milestone updates, academic progress, and follow-through essential.
Top Sport Campaigns – January ’26
Sport campaigns back potential. Early mornings. Training sessions. Opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
Updates here are not just confirmations, they sustain belief.
Top In Loving Memory Campaigns – January ’26
Memorial campaigns represent deeply personal, time-sensitive giving.
Here, transparency is about dignity and respect. It’s not transactional, it’s relational.
Top Animal Welfare Campaigns – January ’26
Animal welfare campaigns consistently show that donors step up for lives that cannot ask for help themselves.
Milestone-based updates, rescues completed, relocations finalised, rehabilitation underway – matter because outcomes are tangible.
Why Updates Strengthen Trust
When donors can see:
- How support is flowing across categories
- Which causes are gaining momentum
- Where urgency is concentrated
- How stories evolve after the initial donation
They understand something important: They are part of something larger than a single transaction.
Category-level transparency helps:
- Reinforce trust in the platform
- Reduce uncertainty
- Encourage repeat giving
- Normalise asking for help
- Demonstrate measurable scale
Visibility reduces hesitation. It turns first-time donors into long-term supporters.
Moving Beyond Individual Updates
Individual campaign updates remain essential. But we are strengthening something alongside them: ecosystem visibility. Because when a donor supports a medical campaign, they are also:
- Strengthening category credibility
- Contributing to platform-wide trust signals
- Encouraging other families to seek help
- Increasing the likelihood of repeat giving
Every donation strengthens more than one story. And donors deserve to see that.
What This Means Going Forward
We are committed to ensuring that:
- Donors are never left in silence
- Updates reflect both individual and broader impact
- Category trends are visible
- Nationally amplified stories are shared
- Impact is contextualised, not isolated
Trust is not built through one update. It is built through consistency.
A Final Reflection
Across medical support, education, sport, memorial campaigns, animal welfare, and the many others, thousands of acts of generosity have already moved through BackaBuddy this year.
Each one mattered.
But what matters just as much is that donors understand the scale of what they are part of.
Transparency is not about volume.
It is about clarity, consistency, and showing donors exactly how their generosity fits into something bigger.
Thank you for helping us build a culture of transparent, people-powered giving.
The BackaBuddy Team
by Tessa Van Rensberg | Feb 5, 2026 | Press Release
For Tyrone Flanagan, cycling has never just been about speed or competition.
At 26 years old, the Boksburg-based cyclist describes himself as disciplined and quietly determined, someone who finds clarity and purpose on the road. Cycling, he says, is where he processes life, pushes his limits, and learns what consistency and commitment can achieve over time.
In December 2025, that personal space of growth became something much bigger.
It became Smiles for Miles, a 1600-kilometre, 10-day cycling journey from Boksburg to St Helena Bay, powered by faith, purpose, and a desire to give back.
When Purpose Meets the Road
Smiles for Miles didn’t come from months of planning or careful deliberation. For Tyrone, it was a moment of clarity.
“There wasn’t a long build-up,” he explains. “It was one of those moments where you just know you have to do something.”
He felt a strong pull to use something he loved, cycling, to create impact beyond himself. The journey would test his physical limits, yes, but more importantly, it would be a way to turn effort into meaning.
Half of the funds raised would go to Mercy Haven Ubuntu House, a safe haven for women and children affected by gender-based violence. The remaining funds would help cover essential costs of the ride and support Tyrone’s upcoming racing season.
Ten Days. Endless Lessons.
From 22 to 31 December, Tyrone rode day after day through towns, farmlands, and vast Karoo landscapes, covering distances that would challenge even seasoned endurance athletes.
The ride was intense, rewarding, and very real.
“The biggest challenges weren’t always physical,” Tyrone says. “A lot of it was the logistics behind the scenes, recovery, planning, timing, and making sure I could show up the next day ready to ride again.”
Day 9 stands out most vividly: 199 kilometres between Calvinia and Clanwilliam, battling relentless wind and unforgiving hills.
“That day demanded everything,” he recalls.
Yet it was often the quieter moments that left the deepest mark, passing through small Karoo towns, experiencing the openness and simplicity of community life, waking early to see game along the road, and pushing through his longest-ever distance of 240 kilometres between Bothaville and Boshof.
And then there was Day 10.
Arriving in St Helena Bay, the final destination, after ten days on the road.
“That moment stays with you,” Tyrone says simply.
Why Mercy Haven Ubuntu House Matters
Tyrone didn’t choose Mercy Haven Ubuntu House by chance.
Their work, supporting women and children affected by gender-based violence, aligns deeply with his faith and values. To him, it’s about restoring dignity, safety, and hope where it has been stripped away.
There is also a deeply personal connection. Tyrone’s mother works as a counsellor at Mercy Haven Ubuntu House, and through her, he has seen firsthand the impact the organisation has on lives marked by trauma.
“Knowing the physical effort had a purpose beyond personal achievement made the hard days easier,” he shares. “It reminded me that endurance isn’t just about pushing through pain, it’s about standing for something bigger than yourself.”
A Journey Rooted in Social Justice
As the story of Smiles for Miles is shared around World Day of Social Justice, its message feels especially relevant.
For Tyrone, social justice is about dignity.
“It’s about ensuring that people are seen, protected, and valued,” he says.
Smiles for Miles connected awareness to action, using physical endurance to shine a light on real issues and to support organisations doing meaningful, often unseen work on the ground.
Quiet Change, Lasting Impact
The journey has changed Tyrone, not in loud or dramatic ways, but in steady, lasting ones.
It reinforced humility, patience, and gratitude. It showed him what’s possible through consistency as a cyclist, and what growth can look like when you keep going even when you’re tired, uncomfortable, and unsure.
And this isn’t the end.
“This feels like the start of something ongoing,” he says. Tyrone hopes to invite others into future challenges, combining cycling, awareness, and giving back, through rides, mentorship, fundraising, and community engagement.
Still Riding Together
To date, 44 donors have supported Smiles for Miles, helping turn kilometres into care and effort into hope for the women and children of Mercy Haven Ubuntu House.
Smiles for Miles is more than a ride.
It’s a reminder that when purpose meets action, even the longest road can lead to meaningful change, and that sometimes, the most powerful journeys are the ones we ride together.
Support Smiles for Miles on BackaBuddy:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/back-my-ride-fuel-my-dream
by Tessa Van Rensberg | Feb 5, 2026 | Press Release
Cape Town, South Africa — Donnel, a 19-year-old from Cape Town, has lived with hydrocephalus since birth, a condition that has left him unable to walk and dependent on full-time care. As he enters adulthood, the physical and practical demands of managing his condition have increased significantly.
In response, his family has launched a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for essential mobility equipment, daily medical and hygiene supplies, and safe transport — support that is now critical to maintaining his health, dignity, and quality of life.
A Family Focused on Care
Donnel’s life has been shaped by ongoing medical intervention and constant care. He has undergone six major surgeries and survived a stroke, resulting in lasting physical limitations. He requires assistance with all daily activities, along with ongoing management of chronic health conditions, including severe skin allergies and the risk of seizures.
Since the age of four, Donnel has been cared for solely by his mother, following the death of his father from cancer. For the past 15 years, she has managed every aspect of his wellbeing, becoming his full-time caregiver.
Her responsibilities are continuous and demanding. She provides 24-hour supervision, manages medical routines and hygiene needs, and performs all physical lifting and transfers, as Donnel cannot walk independently. As he has grown into a young adult, these tasks have become increasingly strenuous.
Despite these pressures, Donnel’s outlook remains a source of strength within the household. His family describes him as disciplined, calm, and quietly resilient. During health setbacks, including seizures, it is often his composure that sustains his mother.
“Donnel doesn’t complain,” his family explains. “Even in difficult moments, his attitude gives his mother the strength to continue.”
One of the ways Donnel expresses determination is through music. Despite poor eyesight and limited use of one hand, he finds joy and purpose in singing. Music offers an emotional outlet and a sense of identity beyond his physical limitations.
Turning to Community Support
As Donnel has transitioned into adulthood, his care needs have reached a critical point. His physical size has made hospital visits, daily transfers, and transport increasingly difficult to manage alone. The strain of lifting and moving him has resulted in his mother developing severe, chronic back pain.
At the same time, the cost of essential daily supplies — including adult nappies and medicated creams required for his skin condition — has continued to rise. For a single caregiver, these combined pressures have become unsustainable.
Faced with these realities, the family made the decision to seek community support by launching a verified BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign.
Since launching three days ago, the response has been encouraging. More than R14,000 has been raised, reaching 70% of the R20,000 goal, through contributions from 15 individual donors. While this support has provided momentum, the family still needs assistance to reach the full amount required.
“This campaign is about ensuring Donnel has the care and dignity he deserves,” says campaign organiser Rory Little. “It’s also about acknowledging that this journey can’t be carried alone anymore.”
The public response has offered encouragement after years of managing Donnel’s care privately, highlighting the impact of collective support.
“Having the right equipment would be life-changing,” the family explains. “It would reduce the risk of injury, protect his mother’s health, and allow Donnel to live with greater comfort and stability.”
To support Donnel, visit the BackaBuddy campaign here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/helping-donnel-access-the-care-he-deserves
