‘I am just doing what needs to be done’

Ansie from Brackendows is the founder of the shelter called Earth Angels in Homelands, Meyerton. She is currently taking care of 16 people providing shelter, food and clothes.

“This is my voluntary work and I’m not expecting anything in return, because if you are doing humanitarian work it must come from within you,” she said.

“I help people who are in need, not only in the shelter but everyone who needs help, I help where I can. I am no hero, it is God’s work, He uses me to help others,” said Ansie.

It is not often that you get goosebumps when you relate good news to somebody.

But when they react the way Ansie Potgieter Ross did, then you know it is a total surprise with a deeper meaning to the one on the receiving end.

Phoning Ansie from Brackendowns to let her know she has been chosen as the Alberton RECORD / West Pack Lifestyle’s Hero of the Month for July turned into one of those really special moments.

Not only was she looking for words to describe how she felt, but you could hear the tears in her voice on the other side of the line.

When she realised she will be receiving a R1 000 gift voucher from West Pack her first words were, “Thank you, thank you so much. Do you realise how many people I can help with something like this?”

ALSO READ: Nominate your local hero today

Ansie was nominated by Andrea Gerber.

Gerber said Ansie is truly an angel to so many because she helps her community with food, shelter, clothes and even helps them find jobs, however, the best of it all is if you are finding yourself homeless she will house you.

“She is also renting a smallholding in Meyerton where young and old live and she takes them in as her own family. She is a loving woman and strives to make this world just a bit easier for others, whatever it may take she gets it done,” explained Gerber.

Live to help

Ansie said she is doing God’s will. She helps people with their basic needs wherever she can.

“I drive so much in a day taking food, clothes and other donations to the shelter. The real heroes in all of this are the sponsors and donors that help with food and clothes, without them this would never be possible.

“I live to help people. Covid-19 has hit all of us and I made sure that people have food. I would make parcels to give to the needy. This is not a heroic deed, however, it is my way of doing what needs to be done,” she said.

She remembered taking a woman with her two-week-old baby off the streets to her shelter.

“It was a cold day and I had to take her with her baby because it was cold. I have a plot which I’m renting in Homelands, Meyerton, and that is where Earth Angels is situated.

“This is my way of life and I love the people of South Africa. This is my voluntary work and I’m not expecting anything in return, because if you are doing humanitarian work it must come from within you,” she said.

This winter she received donated blankets and gave them to people in need and those in the shelter.

ALSO READ: Nominate your local hero today

“At the moment I have 16 people, young and old, my oldest is 68-years-old. At one stage I had 42 people. I called this shelter an upliftment shelter because when you go out here your life changes for the better.

“I also used to have young people who were on drugs. I’m glad to say now that they are clean and some are working for themselves. That makes me proud. This shelter brings people back to society as better people. Although it is not a rehabilitation centre, I have helped a lot of drug addicts. I believe I am God-send to people,” noted Ansie.

On a personal note

Ansie was born in Swaziland and is fluent in IsiZulu, English and Afrikaans.

She said she started at an early age to be so giving.

“My mother had a shop and I would take things from the shop and make parcels for people who need them, I was about 11-years-old then,” she said.

She came to South Africa in 1972 when her father passed on. She continued taking care of people. “At first it was just people who will gather and I would help them and that manifested into the shelter,” noted Ansie.

She had two children. Unfortunately, her son was killed in a car accident, but her daughter works at Laerskool President Steyn.

ALSO READ: Nominate your local hero today

“I have plenty of children as lots of people call me mom.

“My husband Craig Ross helps me a lot with everything. I borrow his bakkie for deliveries. Sometimes I come home very late and I will find him busy already cooking,” she said.

Ansie had this to say about Andrea who nominated her. “She once helped me and I am grateful that she chose to nominate me for the Hero of the Month. She is an awesome child and she now helps me with vegetables when she has a surplus.

“My message to people is that we need to be a giving nation. Help wherever you are, if you go to shops to buy your stuff, buy at least two extra items to give to the needy,” she said.