TZANEEN: Only ‘liefde’ for Zanele and her sisters

Stanford Lake College’s Barnyard Theatre was set alight on Friday evening when Jacaranda FM’s Martin Bester and his band held their ‘Vir Die Liefde’ gig

It was one of those evenings that can only leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. No, not from the delicious warm soups and coffees that were available, but from the community spirit and ‘liefde’ that was shown throughout the evening.

It started with the entrance fee, or lack thereof. Tzaneen Round Table, under the national ‘Fighting Cold’ campaign ensured that each person passing through the door came equipped with a new blanket for those in need.

The atmosphere was electric with Martin Bester and his band performing some of their songs as well as a few classics. One of the first to get people on their feet was a rendition of ‘Three Little Birds’ by Bob Marley and the Wailers. Where Bester sang down the microphone, “Cause every little thing is gonna be alright, Haenertsburg.”

Somebody’s life in the audience was certainly made more comfortable that evening, leaving them knowing that everything little thing is gonna be alright.

During an interlude of their performance, Martin Bester welcomed a young lady to take the microphone. Her name is Nikiwe Phakula, a resident from Nkowaknowa who works for the Department of Health.

Nikiwe recently met a special woman by the name of Zanele Maswanganye whom she felt inspired to help.

A short while ago, Nikiwe wrote to Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels looking for assistance, her letter reading:

“I met Zanele Maswanganye (28) two weeks ago in Burgersdorp village around Tzaneen where she stays. She uses crutches to move around her house but for distances more than 100 metres she uses a wheelchair. She was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. Her problem started in 2006. When she told me that her two sisters (Maria 41 and Donnah 35) are also wheelchair bound I felt shattered. She told me Maria can use her hands but Donnah needs to be fed. They have ordinary wheelchairs that needs a second person for them to move around, they can not do it on their own. And their house doesn’t have a wheelchair ramp and bathing is a problem for them since they don’t have a shower. I’m humbly asking the angels to assist these sisters with battery operated wheelchairs if possible/ build them a ramp/ and shower.”

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Well the pieces of the jigsaw started to come together when, coincidentally, some students from Stanford Lake College also wrote to the Good Morning Angels.

A group of learners, namely, Elané Maritz, Danica Altenroxel, Hannah Rosendorff, Hosea Mulya, Heinrich Maritz and Reuben Middleton as well as their teachers Neil Haarhoff and Tiaan Fullard had raised funds for a ‘World Challenge Expedition’ to Nepal for a community project but there was money left in the pot upon their return.

The school also added an amount from the ‘dream and do’ foundation to make it a staggering donation of R27, 000.

Head Girl, and one of the fundraisers, Elané Maritz turned to Good Morning Angels to ask where their donation could be of best use.

And so the dots were connected and Martin Bester announced on Friday evening that the sum will be donated to Zanele  and her family.

Not feeling warm and fuzzy enough yet? Well how about knowing that an anonymous man sitting in the back row of the audience kindly offered to double the money, there and then.
Zanele told the LETABA HERALD on Monday, “I was so excited. I still cannot believe it. We are going to buy a new wheelchair, prepare the yard and paving for the wheelchairs and change the bathroom too.”

Nikiwe was equally still as excited, “Friday was really good. I didn’t expect such a quick response from Good Morning Angels. I’m very happy that Zanele and her family are going to get the help that they need. Zanele called me on Saturday and she was still in shock. I am so happy.”