Collen Mashawana Foundation to hand over new home to Limpopo family for Mandela Day

The Collen Mashawana Foundation will mark Mandela Day by handing over a newly built home to a vulnerable family in Tshakhuma, Limpopo, as part of its efforts to restore dignity and improve living conditions.

The foundation announced that the Netshivhodza family, comprising Edison Netshivhodza, his wife Merriam and their five children, will receive the new home on Saturday, 18 July 2026.

In a statement the foundation said that the family had spent years living in a fragile shack made from makeshift materials, leaving them exposed to harsh weather and unsafe living conditions. Their situation worsened after floods damaged their already vulnerable home.

The foundation said the new house represents more than just shelter, but a renewed sense of hope and security for the family. "As part of our Mandela Day 2026 programme, the Foundation will officially hand over the family's new home, reaffirming our commitment to restoring dignity and transforming lives in vulnerable communities across South Africa," the statement read.

Chief Operating Officer Austin Mashawana said Mandela Day serves as a reminder of the responsibility to support those in need.

"Mandela Day reminds us that our greatest responsibility is to serve others with compassion and humanity. We cannot ignore the suffering of families who are forced to live in conditions that rob them of their dignity," he said.

Mashawana added that changing one family's circumstances has the potential to inspire hope throughout an entire community. The foundation said the initiative forms part of its ongoing work to provide safe and dignified housing to vulnerable families across the country.