In a heartwarming moment in Demulani Village, Bushbuckridge, WesBank, in partnership with the Collen Mashawana Foundation, recently handed over a new, fully furnished four-room house to Surprise Khoza.
For the 49-year-old father of two, who is wheelchair-bound, this new home is more than just bricks and mortar, it represents a reunion with his two children and their mother following a painful separation caused by unemployment and the inability to provide suitable accommodation for the family.
Until now, Mr. Khoza has been living in an informal settlement with his elderly grandfather (88), his uncle, and his uncle’s wife. The entire household has been dependent on his uncle’s single salary as a mineworker. The new home provides a safe, stable, and dignified space for Mr. Khoza to rebuild the broken ties with his family and create a nurturing environment for his children.
The Khoza home is the third of twelve houses that will be built by the Collen Mashawana Foundation as part of a generous donation by WesBank towards a housing programme that will benefit some of the most vulnerable South Africans, including the elderly, individuals with disabilities, child-headed households, and victims of gender-based violence (GBV). Beneficiaries are identified and nominated through a community-led process, ensuring that the support reaches those who need it most.
Austin Mashawana, COO of the Collen Mashawana Foundation, said: “The foundation is always moved by these acts of generosity it is involved in and grateful to partners like WesBank who understand our vision and continue to support our initiative. Such partnerships must always put the people first and leave long lasting smiles. The building and handing over of houses to deserving beneficiaries is providing security and comfort to those for whom these were an unattainable wish and now have become a reality.”
Lebo Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank, said: “WesBank is deeply committed to enabling South Africans from all backgrounds to realise their dreams and ambitions. A home is a fundamental building block for stability and prosperity. For the Khoza family, this comes at a perfect time, allowing them to reunite and share the warmth of a new family home as the winter chill sets in. We are proud to be part of this initiative that is making a tangible and lasting impact on the ground by restoring dignity and hope to those in need.”
The handover ceremony was filled with emotions and celebration as the keys to his new home were officially presented to Mr. Khoza, marking a new beginning for his family.