A MUNICIPAL clerk and a pastor - who were given R80,000 by a US church for their own pockets - have instead used the money to build an orphanage in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
A few months ago gospel singer Lungi Magwaza, 26, who works as a clerk at the Zululand district municipality, and Pastor Jeremiah Mdlalose of the Light for Africa Church, had impressed members of a Texas church so much that they gave them R80000.
While on a visit to the Texan Clawson Assembly of God Church, Mdlalose told church elders that Magwaza had recorded two gospel albums under the name Lungi M.
The church then donated the money to this project, but Mdlalose and Magwaza decided that the money could be put to better use instead of lining their own pockets.
The two decided to build an orphanage in Gluckstadt near Vryheid in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
On Saturday Magwaza and a delegation from the US church visited the project, which will be completed in August.
Magwaza said most of the children who will occupy the orphanage are aged between two and 15. Most are orphans whose parents died of Aids-related illnesses.
"It saddens me to see innocent children loitering. I cannot bear to see them without a home, so I am now dedicating my life to giving them a home," Magwaza said.
The local traditional leadership donated a piece of land because "we are also aware of these orphans. The fact that 40percent of residents in the area are infected with HIV means the number of orphans will increase".
Magwaza said: "I want to play my role as young person to help where I can. Changing the life of just one orphan means a lot to me.
"To be part of an orphanage that will assist children from rural communities will be special."
"Pastor Mdlalose and I share the same sentiments. So when he met the donors from Texas, he used the opportunity to source funds.
"We could have pocketed the money, but we realised that the government alone cannot help these children," she said.
Magwaza emphasised that her dedication to orphans was not a "money-making scheme". She said in the past she had bought school uniforms and food for orphans from her own pocket.
"I'm employed by the municipality as an administrator and with the little money I earn, I have helped a number of children.
"It's my passion to help children," Magwaza said.
US delegation, head Pastor Tina Poage, who arrived in South Africa last week to meet Magwaza, said her church wanted to see the young woman succeed.
"Pastor Mdlalose explained that they wanted to restore dignity to these orphans by building them a proper home.
"Our members have decided to pledge more money for clothing and food for the children," Poage said.
She said the children reminded her of orphans in rural US.
"We have a similar situation in my country's rural areas. We also assist there.
"The situation I see in these areas saddens me and I promise we will come back soon to continue assisting these poor children," she said.
"I'm grateful to have met a young woman who is so passionate about changing the lives of the poor in her community," said Poage.
Clerk and Pastor angels of mercy
A MUNICIPAL clerk and a pastor - who were given R80,000 by a US church for their own pockets - have instead used the money to build an orphanage in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
A few months ago gospel singer Lungi Magwaza, 26, who works as a clerk at the Zululand district municipality, and Pastor Jeremiah Mdlalose of the Light for Africa Church, had impressed members of a Texas church so much that they gave them R80000.
While on a visit to the Texan Clawson Assembly of God Church, Mdlalose told church elders that Magwaza had recorded two gospel albums under the name Lungi M.
The church then donated the money to this project, but Mdlalose and Magwaza decided that the money could be put to better use instead of lining their own pockets.
The two decided to build an orphanage in Gluckstadt near Vryheid in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
On Saturday Magwaza and a delegation from the US church visited the project, which will be completed in August.
Magwaza said most of the children who will occupy the orphanage are aged between two and 15. Most are orphans whose parents died of Aids-related illnesses.
"It saddens me to see innocent children loitering. I cannot bear to see them without a home, so I am now dedicating my life to giving them a home," Magwaza said.
The local traditional leadership donated a piece of land because "we are also aware of these orphans. The fact that 40percent of residents in the area are infected with HIV means the number of orphans will increase".
Magwaza said: "I want to play my role as young person to help where I can. Changing the life of just one orphan means a lot to me.
"To be part of an orphanage that will assist children from rural communities will be special."
"Pastor Mdlalose and I share the same sentiments. So when he met the donors from Texas, he used the opportunity to source funds.
"We could have pocketed the money, but we realised that the government alone cannot help these children," she said.
Magwaza emphasised that her dedication to orphans was not a "money-making scheme". She said in the past she had bought school uniforms and food for orphans from her own pocket.
"I'm employed by the municipality as an administrator and with the little money I earn, I have helped a number of children.
"It's my passion to help children," Magwaza said.
US delegation, head Pastor Tina Poage, who arrived in South Africa last week to meet Magwaza, said her church wanted to see the young woman succeed.
"Pastor Mdlalose explained that they wanted to restore dignity to these orphans by building them a proper home.
"Our members have decided to pledge more money for clothing and food for the children," Poage said.
She said the children reminded her of orphans in rural US.
"We have a similar situation in my country's rural areas. We also assist there.
"The situation I see in these areas saddens me and I promise we will come back soon to continue assisting these poor children," she said.
"I'm grateful to have met a young woman who is so passionate about changing the lives of the poor in her community," said Poage.
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