Zanele Ncala, a 33-year-old single mother of six boys, has faced more than her fair share of hardships. In 2020, she tragically lost her 4-month-old daughter. Originally from Mdeni, Soweto, Zanele moved to Lehae in 2018 to take over her mother’s house, however, in the same year, disaster struck when her home was destroyed by fire, along with her identification documents and her children’s birth certificates.

Living with chronic health conditions, Zanele is also on Chronic Treatment, and her children’s father, who struggles with substance abuse, is unable to provide any support. As a result, Zanele is left to survive solely on the monthly child grant, while bearing the responsibility of raising six boys.

Zanele’s story took a positive turn when her 16-year-old son joined the Young Life program. Through this connection, we were able to assist Zanele with recovering her identification and the necessary documents for her children, which were lost in the fire. We also provided essential school materials and shoes for her son to ensure he did not miss out on his education.

Before our intervention, Zanele often faced the harsh reality of not having enough food for her family due to her unemployment. Thanks to the Mount Olive Outreach programs, all of her children now receive cooked meals daily. The support and resources provided by the centre have given Zanele a sense of hope and relief.

In addition to the document recovery process, the Opstap family assisted Zanele in repairing her home, transforming it into a safer and more secure space for her children to grow up in. Zanele has now successfully received her identification card and is in the process of applying for her children’s identification documents, a crucial step toward building a better future for them all.

Zanele’s journey is one of resilience in the face of adversity, and through the unwavering support of Mount Olive Outreach, she is steadily rebuilding her life and providing a more stable and hopeful environment for her family.