The grief-stricken Nobela sisters, Shirley and Sharon, who lost three children and their one-room home in a fire at Itsani Matieni, received a new lease on life after the Collen Mashawana Foundation (CMF) built them a new house.
The fully furnished three-bedroom home, featuring a lounge, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, electricity, ceilings, running water, and a septic tank, was handed over to the sisters in a community ceremony on Saturday, 12 December. The handover was led by CMF chairman Dr Collen Mashawana, Thulamela Mayor Sarah Rambuda, and a delegation from the Makumbane Traditional Council, with various community structures in attendance.
Following the devastating fire on 29 August 2025 that claimed the lives of Vhulenda Mbengeni, Phathutshedzo Nobela, and Vhugala Nobela, aged 2, 3 and 4, CMF pledged a comprehensive four-fold intervention: rebuilding the home, assisting with funeral arrangements, providing trauma counselling, and demolishing the burnt structure.
Mayor Rambuda praised the partnership, saying, "Government cannot do it alone. It is through partnerships that we are able to take charge of situations like these."
CMF chairman Mashawana said he had been moved by the tragedy and hoped the new home would restore dignity and offer renewed hope.
Recalling the fire, Sharon Nobela said: "I left the kids at home all by themselves for Sibasa, where I was to do my last parole signing. On my way back, I started receiving calls that our house was on fire. I enquired about the kids and was told that they were nowhere to be seen. After some time, I received that dreadful call. I felt like my world had come to an end but did not know God had a purpose."
She thanked CMF for its support, saying, "Our kids will not return but the house will go a long way in soothing our pain and healing our wounds."