Jacaranda 94.2 Good Morning Angels help family rebuild their life after Duduza tornado

When a tornado hit Duduza on 3 October 2011, the lives of Thabitha Sithole, her daughter Sibongile and her grandson changed drastically when their house was completely destroyed... There was a lot of fixing to be done and Jacaranda 94.2 and Builders Warehouse stepped up to the challenge!

Olga from Builders Warehouse, Thabitha Sithole and her daughter Sibongile

Fully grown trees were snapped like twigs

Mom Thabitha stunned as she's given the great news

Overflowing emotion and another hug, just for good courtesy

'Praise be to God!' she says, right after chatting with Dianne

Sibongile chatting with Dianne from Good Morning Angels - unaware of a huge surprise on the way

Sibongile gives Olga from Builders Warehouse a hug - a big thank you for R50 000 towards a new home and R5000 towards groceries

Sibongile slightly stunned as she finds out that her home will be rebuilt

Sibongile with Olga Mhlongo, HR Manager at Builders Warehouse Boksburg

Tens of tons of weight easily pushed over

The foundation where the family's house used to be before the Duduza tornado destroyed it

The tiny temporary shack where Sibongile, her monther Thabitha and her son live

Trees uprooted during the tornado's rage

On the evening the tornado struck at about 6:15pm Thabitha was in the kitchen preparing tea. Her grandchild then saw that the roof of their house was flying off and ran to his granny to tell her, but when he got there he found Thabitha lying on the floor. She had been struck by a brick and lay unconscious. The boy immediately ran to his mother who, in the chaos, rallied up neighbors, who helped get Thabitha to hospital.

Though she is on her way to what will hopefully be a complete recovery and the other two members of their small family escaped relatively unscathed, they now live in a small ten square meter shack provided by a local church - just a few steps away from where their RDP house once stood. With the unemployed Sibongile, her son (aged 12) and Thabitha living only off Thabitha's grant, the hopes of ever rebuilding their house looked dim... until their story came to the attention of Jacaranda 94.2's Good Morning Angels and Builders Warehouse Boksburg!

On Wednesday, Sibongile was surprised by an early morning phone call from one of Jacaranda 94.2's lead angels, Dianne Broodryk, who informed her that Builders Warehouse won't only be donating R5000 to help the family to buy the groceries they need for a few months to come, but will also be sponsoring building material to the value of R50 000 to rebuild the family's home!
First in a state of absolute shock and disbelief, tears soon started running from Sibongile's eyes as the reality sunk in: they would have the means to reconstruct their lives, thanks to the help of warm-hearted, everyday-angels!

"Praise be to God!", she exclaimed with her hands in the air, "He looks after His children... He doesn't leave them! Praise be to God!".

From outside the shack where Sibongile took the call, the absolute shock and elation continued inward as she told the bedridden Thabitha the great news! A family simultaneously in a state of disbelief and joy, but at the same time genuinely, humbly thankful!

Olga Mhlongo from Builders Warehouse and Jacaranda 94.2 Good Morning Angels agree: "Other companies need to join in these efforts in whichever big or small way they can. The devastation is almost incomprehensible and most families' lives are in ruin, but, with the help of everyday people - as we see happening all over Duduza - miracles still happen today!"

This is changing people's lives for good - the Jacaranda 94.2 Good Morning Angels way!