A new home for 9 siblings

Photos: Supplied

A Soweto family, who were left orphaned after their mother and grandmother passed away, is one of 40 child-headed households who have been given a second lease on life by a local charity.  

Nine siblings in the Mbatha family were all smiles recently when they received a fully furnished renovated home, outbuilding rooms set up, and clothes donated by people of the community. 

 

On Monday, 13 September the family meet team members of the Collen Mashawana Foundation together with the chairmen himself, Collen Mashawana. The foundation was also joined by members from the Kasi Hero Foundation (KHF).   

 

Mashawana received a call from the founder of Kasi Hero Foundation Ndivhuwo Liphadzi, who was contacted by a neighbour. Liphadzi who saw the desperate situation the family was in. "We as Kasi Hero Foundation we're called by a concerned neighbor , Ntombi Mngomezulu who has been observing and assisting this family," said the found of KHF, Ndivhuwo Liphadzi. 

 

"Fortunately the post gained much traction and people donated clothes and furniture, and Collen Mashawana promised to renovate the whole house and build outdoor rooms," he said.

 

The Mbatha mother passed away in 2019 with cervical cancer and the grandmother passed away due to COVID-19 complications in December 2020. The siblings, aged 26 years, 24 years, 17 years, 14 years, 10 years, 8 years, 5 years, 3 years and 2 years were living off the social grant they receive. Three of the siblings attend school and the baby currently doesn't have a birth certificate which the siblings says has hindered them from receiving a social grant to help with expenses.

 

Mashawana decided to visit the family as part of his birthday celebrations. He heard that the second born was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and that she is scared to begin chemo, because her mother’s passing made her the primary care-giver. She started taking her medication when her mum passed away. She says her younger siblings are afraid of losing her too.