The Shabangu family received a brand-new 45 square metre house complete with two bedrooms, a lounge, kitchen, bathroom, tiled floors, a ceiling, and solar power. Picture supplied
South Africa
The Collen Mashawana Foundation handed over a new home to the Shabangu family after a devastating fire.
Hope was restored in Hammanskraal on Monday as the Collen Mashawana Foundation (CMF) officially handed over a fully furnished two-bedroom home to the Shabangu family, whose house was recently destroyed in a fire. The handover, held in Ramotse Dethabaneng, marked not only a new chapter for the family but also a renewed commitment from CMF to assist more families in crisis.
The Shabangu family lost everything two weeks ago when a fire tore through their home while they were away. Thanks to CMF and its partners, they received a brand-new 45 square metre house complete with two bedrooms, a lounge, kitchen, bathroom, tiled floors, a ceiling, and solar power. The home was built in just seven days.
The emotional handover ceremony was attended by representatives from the Department of Human Settlements, the City of Tshwane, the National Home Builders Registration Council, and the South African Women in Construction.
This marks the third family assisted by the Foundation this month following similar tragedies. CMF continues to respond to emergencies across South Africa, helping families rebuild their lives and restoring dignity in the face of disaster.
In addition to the handover, the Foundation announced it will build four more homes for families in need. Earlier in the day, the CMF team visited Mamelodi Ward 16 to inspect several incomplete houses. A promise was made to complete three of those houses within the next few weeks.
One of the day’s most touching moments came during a visit to Mr. Vincent Kgabo, a 71-year-old resident of Rakobo Section in Hammanskraal. Kgabo, who is wheelchair-bound and visually impaired, currently lives alone in a shack that is unsafe and unfit for someone with a disability. Deeply affected by his situation, Mashawana committed to building him a new, accessible home within two weeks.
According to the foundation, the work being done in Hammanskraal reflects the Collen Mashawana Foundation’s broader mission: to bring lasting change to vulnerable communities through housing, empowerment and compassion.
