2022 has been a challenging year for many South Africans, as we try to re-adjust to Life post- pandemic and the hardships and economic casualties suffered. Over the past two years, we have dealt with fear, isolation, riots and natural disasters.

As a CSI initiative aiding relief measures, our National Lottery Operator, ITHUBA, set out to deliver food and necessities to affected communities. Upon witnessing the heartache first-hand, their CEO, MS Charmaine Mabuza, realised that food parcels alone wwould not make enough of an impact.

ITHUBA re-examined their CSI initiatives and set aside the comprehensive sum of R10 million towards a fund earmarked for communities in need. This was just the beginning of their efforts, as they soon after embarked on changing lives one family at a time by building to build new homes for several families around the nation.

Wanting to make a difference to as many families in need as possible, ITHUBA set out to identify fitting beneficiaries across Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal. ITHUBA and Ms Mabuza are travelling around the country in a multi-provincial roadshow between the 05 December to 09 December 2022, handing over home keys to their new owners.

The roadshow kick-started in Mpumalanga on 05 December, visiting the Mbombela and Zwelisha areas, to oversee the handover of three homes to families (Magagula, Madonsela and Mkhize) that were identified as being in need, before they move on to Gauteng and lastly to Kwa-Zulu Natal. 

The project has been a massive one. It is also rewarding and inspiring, particularly to the beneficiaries of the newly built homes, who can take comfort that the generosity of ITHUBA has provided them with a refuge. The Magagula family was overjoyed and relieved when they were handed their new keys. """"Life was very hard. There were times I didn't know what I was going to eat or how I was going to take care of my children. I now trust that I have received blessings from God""""

While the Madonsela family representative said, """"""""This home will be well loved and looked after by us; we feel so special to have received this"""."

The last family to receive their keys today was the Mkhize Joseph family, who could hardly contain their elation and said that there 'couldn't possibly be a better Christmas present for their family.