CELEBRITIES ProVerb, Thabiso Sikwane and Andrew Govender have joined singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka as ambassadors for the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital.

They are expected to help in the hospital's promotional, marketing and fund-raising activities.

CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children's Foundation, Sibongile Mkhabela, was this week full of praise for the new ambassadors.

She said: "ProVerb, Thabiso and Andrew are young and energetic and embrace their collective social tasks as positive role models.

'Both Thabiso and ProVerb are parents, and they understand the urgent need for a hospital solely dedicated to the needs of children."

Chaka Chaka was ecstatic at being joined by the younger celebrities.

"I've been working with the Nelson Mandela Foundation as their 46664 ambassador and I've become part of the family. And, when I was approached to work on this, like Madiba, I felt it's good to give something back to someone who gives his all without conditions, reservations and without wanting anything in return."

Thabiso Sikwane, who is a Kaya FM radio talk show host, said: "I will do my best to add value to this worthy cause in this role. It's a blessing and a privilege to be part of such a life-changing project that will benefit our continent."

The hospital will be located in Parktown, near the Wits Medical School in Johannesburg, on land donated by the University of the Witwatersrand. Construction begins in November and the hospital is expected to be completed in July 2014.