THOHOYANDOU - Following last week's story about the poverty-stricken family of Khubvi, there was a good response from concerned community members, who phoned Mirror with the intention of helping the family.

This was after we ran a story about a pensioner called Nyanize Tsakane Ngwenyane (68), who is struggling to make ends meet with her pension grant, in order to support her daughter Dorcus Ndou and her five grandchildren.

Mirror visited the family after getting the story from a concerned community volunteer, Anna Netshishivhe of the Rovhofholowa Community Project (RCP). In that story, Nyanise said she has been struggling to support this family with her pension grant as she also support the other two orphaned children, Vhonani and Mukovhe, her grandchildren.

Her other concern was that her grandchildren are not attending any school, because of her financial problems. She also said the responsibility of buying food and clothes for the two extended families, was too much for her.

The government, as it did to other families, never replaced the family house, which was destroyed by the floods.

Besides all these problems and plight of the family, the good news is that they now, at least for now, have food for themselves. Thanks to Mbulaheni Ravhengani of Makwarela, who opened his heart and pocket for the family.

In a very commendable move, Ravhengani, who is employed by the Department of Economic Affairs in Thohoyandou phoned Mirror on Friday, the day we ran the story, and pledged that he will do something for the needy family.

As a follow-up, Mirror accompanied Ravhengani on Sunday when he braved the cold weather to donate food parcels to the family. It was a Christmas and a half when Ravhengani, who was accompanied by Makwarela Civic members handed the family a 80kg bag of mealie meal, potatoes, cabbages, soup, fresh vegetables, sweets and other groceries.

Nyanise, who was speechless about Ravhengani's open heart, was dancing like a child. Netshishivhe was also left speechless about the offer, which she described as a short-term relief to her. She also revealed that there were plans to make sure that all children from this family and other families go back to school next year. Right now, there is a project run by her (Netshishivhe), of special classes preparing these children for school next year.

Mirror has learnt that Ravhengani, who resides at Makwarela, is known as a good Samaritan who always does something for needy people. He is also a senior member of the Girl Guides South Africa in the region. He also guides people about how to manage their finances on Phalaphala FM radio and Univen radio.

Many people phoned Mirror and promised to help the family, but they have not yet confirmed their donations.

The spokesperson for the department, Mr Aluwani Netsianda phoned Mirror on Wednesday morning to reveal that they have already given the family a bag of mealie-meal and food parcels. Netsianda said the department together with other stakeholders, including social workers, are already assisting the family in a big way.

"We have assigned our Chief Community Liaison Officer, Ndiafhi Mudau who is facilitating the whole thing in the area. In this family there are two children who may qualify for the child support grant. As they do not have birth certificates, we are assisting them to go to the clinic to get such certificates. Our Chief Community Liaison officer visited home affairs in order to make arrangements to get the certificates for them so that they can get the child support grant. He first went to the clinics were they were born to get their birth records."

He also stated that there is another child who is going to be taken to hospital for professional assessment so that she can qualify for the care dependency grant. "We are going to write a letter to the municipality and ward councilor so that the family can be enlisted for those who are going to get disaster houses, as their house was flooded in 2000," said Netsianda. He added that the process is on and will be finalised soon.

Netsianda said the department would also communicate with the education department to see how they can help to get the children back to school. He also said that they would see how they could help other children in the area.