11 Oct The Collen Mashawana Foundation (CMF) and Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) Extend a Further Helping Hand to Flood-Affected Families in KwaZulu-Natal
Johannesburg— In a heartfelt gesture of compassion and solidarity, the Collen Mashawana Foundation (CMF) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have joined forces to bring hope and shelter to families devastated by the 2022 floods in KwaZulu-Natal. As part of their collaborative initiative, CMF and IDC are proud to announce the official handover of three newly constructed homes to deserving families on Thursday, 12th and 13th October 2023.
The initiative, which was launched on the 02 June 2023, aims to rebuild homes for individuals who lost all their possessions in the wake of the tragic floods. With an unwavering commitment to providing stability and security, CMF and IDC have pledged to construct a total of ten fully furnished homes. These houses are being built in phases, with two already successfully handed over. The upcoming handover of three homes on the 12th and 13th of October marks an essential milestone in this initiative.
“Our partnership with CMF is aligned to the IDC’s standing commitment to support communities affected by natural disasters, amongst other things. We believe that through partnerships such as this one, we can measurably contribute to improving the lives of our people, especially those in remote and rural areas. Today we see not only our partnership with CMF coming into action, but a number of our other strategic partners like the Imbumba Foundation and Ashraful Aid also coming on board to assist with seeing to the families’ needs,” says Tshepo Ramodibe, the IDC’s Head of Corporate Affairs.
“The collaboration between ourselves as the CMF and the IDC brings together the expertise, resources, and commitment required to address the pressing housing needs in the region. As a foundation, having partnerships such as these helps us to spread the work that we have been doing over the last 10 years,” says Collen Mashawana, Chaiperson of the CMF.
Moreover, this initiative has not only provided much-needed shelter to these families but has also contributed to the local economy. By sourcing materials from nearby hardware and furniture stores, the project has bolstered local businesses. In total, 15 labourers were sourced from the community have been employed, further uplifting the region’s economy. Small local businesses, such asCrown Build More and Nogabela Transport, have received vital support through this initiative.
The Collen Mashawana Foundation and IDC remain steadfast in their commitment to supporting the people of KwaZulu-Natal during the ongoing recovery phase. Together, they are dedicated to bringing normalcy to the lives of vulnerable groups affected by the floods and, in doing so, restoring their dignity.
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Annette Banda
063 504 4287
annette@collenmashawana.com
Additonal Information:
The families set to receive these homes have faced unimaginable hardships:
1. Richardsbay Eskhaleni – Emelda Zazi Sibisi: Emelda, a grandmother, lives with her three children and two grandchildren in a dilapidated shack that has been deteriorating due to heavy rains. The family relies on the Gogo social grant for basic necessities, and Emelda’s social grant is the sole source of income for the household.
2. Richardsbay Idlabeylandula – The Kunene Family: This is a child-headed family of four, with the eldest being 25 years old. She has moved to Durban in search of employment to support her younger siblings after their mother’s tragic passing from Cervical Cancer in December 2023. The family currently lacks a source of income, with only one member possessing identification documents.
3. KwaNgcolosi – Thobekile Maria Dlamini: Mam Thobekile, a 57-year-old disabled woman, lives with her unemployed son in a house that is crumbling and unsafe.
4. The IDC has commited over R10 million towards humanitarian relief in the last financial year