Providing loving home to orphans
BORN into a family of five children, where their home was always open to the community, was what inspired Bongiwe Gabelana to run a place of safety for abandoned children.
Gabelana’s heart for destitute children is clearly evident when she speaks about them.
“The innocent souls are just waiting to be loved. They have so much love in their eyes.”
Gabelana registered with Child Welfare and the department of social development to open her Abbotsford home to orphaned infants.
She also provides the finances herself to care for them.
“Whenever there is a child in need of a home, social services call me and I go to collect the child and care for them for a period of three months while social workers try find a home for the baby.”
“Throughout the period I love the children, clothe them and feed them at no cost to social services.”
Gabelana said she was merely doing her bit by giving back to the community.
“I am not a politician, or a philanthropist, but am just doing my bit towards social responsibility and I encourage my children to do the same when they grow up.
“When I have a child in my care I treat him or her like my own and I take them everywhere I go, to church, the mall and gatherings I have with my friends.”
Gabelana, who has had more than 10 babies in her care, said most of them had been adopted by her friends.
However, all potential parents were first screened by social workers before being able to adopt babies.
Gabelana said all her friends were middle-class residents with steady jobs and comfortable homes.
“There are not enough black people adopting children, nor are there enough black families offering their services as safe homes and that is something I want to change,” Gabelana said.
Social development spokesman Gcobani Maswana said he applauded the efforts of people such as Gabelana.
“We appreciate people who are everyday heroes and who take from their own pockets to make a difference to a child who has nothing and jump at the opportunity to transform the future of that child.
“It takes a community to raise a child, and those who recognise that need to be supported and applauded.” —