Gospel star builds home for destitute mom, child

Butho Vuthela, with the help of friends, builds and furnishes house

Kind-hearted gospel star Butho Vuthela, with assistance from some of his Facebook friends, has built a home for a destitute Mount Fletcher mother and her 11-year-old son.

The multi award-winning star was touched when he found Nokwanda Qwabe, 51, and the child freezing in a tiny, collapsing mud house, with no bed or cooking utensils.

The fully furnished home was officially handed over to Qwabe on Thursday.

The thrilled mom said the new home had restored her dignity, and filled her with pride and hope.

Her only source of income is the state child support grant.

The dilapidated mud and stick hovel they lived in has holes in the walls and a badly leaking roof.

Elundini infrastructure and human settlement portfolio head Thozama May, Tsolo businesswoman Thandolwethu Nalatsho and some councillors were among the people who witnessed the handing over of the new two-roomed house.

Qwabe could barely contain her excitement.

“To have a decent house was a dream I thought would never happen. It was just a fantasy, as I knew I would never have the money to build it as the chances to be employed, given my age, are small.

“I feared that when I die, my child would not survive that house.

“It was only by God’s mercy that on rainy and windy days it did not fall on top of us.

“All along God knew that he would send a Good Samaritan in Butho, to come and make my dream a reality, and restore my dignity and bring hope to myself and my child,” said Qwabe, adding: “It will take months to sink in that indeed this is my own house.”

It was in March during lockdown when Vuthela was at his rural homestead at Upper Ngxaxha village that he went to look for some umhlonyane [African wormwood] , as well as for his missing livestock.

“I came across the Qwabe family and was shocked by the big cracks in their walls. I was afraid their house was about to collapse on them.

“As I got closer, I saw the worst of sorrow which was visible in the eyes of Nokwanda and her son.

“I had to stop everything. I asked them for permission to take pictures, which I would use trying to find help for them. I sent those pictures to the Elundini mayor [Nonkongozelo Ruth Lengs] who agreed that their situation was really desperate,” said Vuthela.

Vuthela wanted things to be done speedily.

“I was fearing that in July snow will fall, and the cold fronts would freeze them and their house would fall on them.

“I posted the pictures on social media, and asked my Facebook friends to assist me with whatever they could manage to build a decent and safe structure.

“My Facebook family contributed what they could afford, and through God’s mercies, we managed to build this decent and beautiful home,” said Vuthela.