In a heartwarming moment in Khuma township near Stilfontein, in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality, the Mercy Phetla Foundation, recently handed over a new, fully furnished two-room house to Brenda Nomzamo Makeleni on Saturday, 30 August 2025.
For the 40-year-old mother, who is currently unemployed, this new home is more than just bricks and walls, it represents dignified and secured space for her four children. Until now, Makeleni has been living in a shack with her children for some time now.
The Makeleni family is the second of two families that benefited and received donations from the foundation as part of a generous donation by Mercy Phetla to honour International Nelson Mandela Day.
“I’m grateful for what is happening today. I just want to thank my sister Mercy and her team for what they have done for me and my family. They have given me a dignified and secured space.
“I hope and pray for their success and prosperity so that they can help other people. ,” said Makeleni.
Speaking to City Report that, Phetla said: “In addition to the fully furnished house handover, in collaboration with the Ward 38 community committee, we distributed 11 food parcels to other underprivileged homes. This initiative reflects our dedication to uplifting our community and making a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve. Sharing a meal with both beneficiaries and hearing them express how much this contribution means to them touched my heart and indeed gave me more motivation to Lend a Hand.
“One can only imagine what it felt like for both of them to live so long without sanitation and a safe home. We pledge to continue our efforts and return to the Khuma community to further support those in need.
The handover ceremony was filled with emotions and celebration as the keys to her new home were officially presented to Miss Makeleni, marking a new beginning for his family.
On 18 July 2025, the foundation built a house, donated essential items, repaired facilities, and uplifted older persons and community in Khuma.
Armed with brushes, ladders and paint, foundation members and volunteers divided themselves into teams to transform the house and yard of 85-year-old grandmother Mme Betty and Makeleni.
On the day, the foundation donated food parcels and hosted lunch for community members who were present.
“We actually connected sanitation services for Mme Betty, who turned 85 years on the 7 June and accordingly when she made the request, she has been struggling with sanitation for the past 30 years plus and then whilst we were doing it, then we found that the neighbor, Brenda also did not have.
“She also had a shack. So now to assist the veteran, because we are doing a 67 minutes initiative, with trying to actually push the legacy of Nelson Mandela, which one of the things he was passionate about also was the eradication of shacks. Then we then built a two, three room house for Mme Brenda,” said Mercy Phetla.
Phetla indicated that Mme Betty’s house had a roof that was leaking.
“Then we replaced her roof, and then we also painted her house. The other thing that we did was to dished out food parcels for community members around the ward,” Phetla said.
Phetla said despite the foundation being registered in May 2025, they have been giving back to the community of North West province using Mercy Outreach.
“As much as the foundation has been registered in May this year, we have been doing charity work for quite a long time. In Schweizer-Reneke, we’re running with the name – Mercy Outreach. So here we decided to just change it to Mercy Phetla Foundation.
The foundation spokesperson Kamogelo Gaseitsiwe indicated that on 19 September 2025, they will be celebrating the 100th birthday of one of their beneficiaries in Jouberton.
Gaiseitsiwe indicated that the house of the elderly woman will be renovated.
“We will be visiting schools in the next month to encourage and wish matriculants well in their final examinations- as a wise leader once said “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
