Jacaranda FM’s beloved community outreach platform, Good Morning Angels, has partnered with LottoStar to mark the beginning of Women’s Month in the most meaningful way: by changing the lives of three courageous women who are working tirelessly to care for their families, despite life’s overwhelming challenges, with a life-changing donation of R227,000.
The funds, raised through LottoStar’s Fortune Frenzy competition on Jacaranda FM, have been allocated to women who exemplify resilience, strength, and selflessness. In true Good Morning Angels fashion, these donations are not just about money; they are about restoring dignity, enabling health, and empowering women to continue their journeys with renewed hope.
Helping 8-year-old Zelné Get Life-Changing Surgery
Eight-year-old Zelné Potgieter is the youngest daughter of single mom Annetjie Potgieter. Earlier this year, Zelné was diagnosed with a rare liver condition requiring urgent surgery. Despite having no medical aid, Annetjie managed to raise R131,000 towards the procedure. However, the full cost of the surgery, which includes removing a liver cyst, gallbladder, and part of her small intestine, totals over R209,000. Good Morning Angels and LottoStar have stepped in with the remaining R80,000 needed to ensure Zelné can undergo her operation on 19 August and begin living a life free from pain.
Giving a Future Teacher Relief from Debilitating Endometriosis
Miss X, a 26-year-old foundation phase teaching graduate, has battled crippling pain due to severe Endometriosis and ovarian cysts. Her condition has severely impacted her quality of life and professional ambitions. With no medical aid and limited state hospital support, her case was referred to specialist Dr. Abri de Bruin, who offered to perform the life-saving surgery free of charge, if R100,000 could be raised for theatre and medical costs. Kicking off Women’s Month, Good Morning Angels and LottoStar committed the full R100,000, giving Miss X the medical care she urgently needs to reclaim her life and continue inspiring the next generation of learners.
Restoring Sight and Dignity for Working Mom Lerato Dibe
Lerato Dibe, a hardworking 37-year-old barista in Midrand, has been living with deteriorating vision caused by childhood exposure to harsh environmental conditions. After being referred to specialists by a kind-hearted customer, she was diagnosed with only 5% vision in one eye and 50% in the other. The good news? Her left eye can be corrected to 90% with lens transplant surgery. While the surgical team has generously offered to waive their fees, Lerato still needed R50,000 to cover hospital and theatre costs. A customer of Lerato, who chose to remain anonymous, donated R10,000 to the cause and Good Morning Angels and LottoStar are covering the remaining R40,000, plus an additional R7,000 to help Lerato and her daughter with essentials during her recovery, bringing the total support to R47,000.
“These three women represent millions of South African mothers, daughters, sisters, and breadwinners who carry so much with such grace,” says Martin Bester, host of Breakfast with Martin Bester. “This was such a great way to kick off Women’s Month. It is a privilege to assist these three phenomenal women, and to give them the support they need to care for themselves and their families. There are so many women living with pain thinking its normal – and it isn’t.
They live with this pain unnecessarily because they don’t have access to proper medical intervention. I find that quite shocking and I hope that listeners who tuned in to Good Morning Angels this morning realise that if you have pain and you think it’s normal – it’s not, and something can likely be done. This is what Good Morning Angels is all about, making a real, tangible difference in people’s lives.”
These donations are another reminder of the purpose and power of Good Morning Angels. The initiative is proud to continue its mission of creating positive change and celebrating the unwavering strength of South African women who are doing their utmost for their families, communities and themselves.