A POVERTY-STRICKEN 89-year-old woman, who lived in a dilapidated house with her now deceased granddaughter, has been moved to an old age home. And, thanks to Sowetan, Nonzwakazi Ndiza's 14-year-old disabled granddaughter Andiswa Ndiza was also given a decent burial on Saturday in Freedom Park, Rustenburg, North West.
She had died from severe bleeding after she was allegedly raped by an unknown suspect.
Last week Ndiza appealed to the community to help her bury her granddaughter.
After Sowetan had published her story a Pretoria businessman, the Bojanala district municipality, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Rustenburg, members of the community and the North West department of social development, women, children and people living with disability stepped in to help.
Businessman Thomas Kgokolo and his wife Gontse spent the whole of Friday with the family. They paid for the grave site and bought groceries and meat for the funeral.
"I read this article three times. I could not hold my tears and thought to myself, something has to be done, I just wanted to put a smile on the granny's face," Kgokolo said.
Bojanala district municipality donated a coffin and paid mortuary storage. Freedom park residents Robinson Molebatsi and Peter Khobata donated money.
NGO Tlhokomelang Ma-Africa care centre took Ndiza in after the funeral. The centre's manager, Thomas Mpipi, said he was deeply touched after reading the story.
"I am a disabled person myself. The Ndiza situation was heartbreaking, I did not think twice but said to myself, I am taking her to the centre."
The social development department will today take Ndiza for trauma counselling.
Freedom Park councillor Tiego Makobo helped with funeral arrangements. "We did not think we would get help so fast, we are humbled."
Ndiza ran out of words when she saw how people helped.
"Ngiyabonga, ungkulunkulu a ni busise (thank you , may God bless you)," she said smiling.
Hearts open to help granny bury teen girl
A POVERTY-STRICKEN 89-year-old woman, who lived in a dilapidated house with her now deceased granddaughter, has been moved to an old age home. And, thanks to Sowetan, Nonzwakazi Ndiza's 14-year-old disabled granddaughter Andiswa Ndiza was also given a decent burial on Saturday in Freedom Park, Rustenburg, North West.
She had died from severe bleeding after she was allegedly raped by an unknown suspect.
Last week Ndiza appealed to the community to help her bury her granddaughter.
After Sowetan had published her story a Pretoria businessman, the Bojanala district municipality, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Rustenburg, members of the community and the North West department of social development, women, children and people living with disability stepped in to help.
Businessman Thomas Kgokolo and his wife Gontse spent the whole of Friday with the family. They paid for the grave site and bought groceries and meat for the funeral.
"I read this article three times. I could not hold my tears and thought to myself, something has to be done, I just wanted to put a smile on the granny's face," Kgokolo said.
Bojanala district municipality donated a coffin and paid mortuary storage. Freedom park residents Robinson Molebatsi and Peter Khobata donated money.
NGO Tlhokomelang Ma-Africa care centre took Ndiza in after the funeral. The centre's manager, Thomas Mpipi, said he was deeply touched after reading the story.
"I am a disabled person myself. The Ndiza situation was heartbreaking, I did not think twice but said to myself, I am taking her to the centre."
The social development department will today take Ndiza for trauma counselling.
Freedom Park councillor Tiego Makobo helped with funeral arrangements. "We did not think we would get help so fast, we are humbled."
Ndiza ran out of words when she saw how people helped.
"Ngiyabonga, ungkulunkulu a ni busise (thank you , may God bless you)," she said smiling.