Helping community that helped her

SHE was just 9 months old when she was found 30 years ago near her dead mother, who had committed suicide.

Her cries alerted the neighbours, who called the local welfare society and police.

The survivor, whose biological father dumped her and her mother before she was born, is now employed at a community organisation.

She had asked a couple who played a pivotal role in her life, when she had attended primary school, high school and university, to be her “parents” at her Hindu wedding.

The woman, who declined to be named, said her “parents” had provided her with plenty of love.

“I don’t regard them as my foster parents but as my own parents. I am involved in community work because of the assistance rendered to me by a community organisation.

“My heart and soul is with the organisation,” she said. “I had other job offers but turned them down. This is my home.”

The organisation’s head recalled the mother’s tragic death: “I can still picture the woman when she was a baby and was near her mom, who had passed on. I was among the first people, apart from the neighbours, at the property 30 years ago.”

He said she had defied the odds and was passionate about her work. “She is always the first to assist the homeless and the poorest of the poor. If a homeless person needs a bath, she will help, without making a fuss. Having graduated from the university of hard knocks, that is not surprising.” card and school report will also need to be shown. Proof of the applicant’s marital status is also required.

If the application is is not approved, Sassa will inform you in writing.

If an applicant is aggrieved by not being approved, the applicant can lodge an appeal to the national office of the Department of Social Development within 90 days of being turned down by Sassa.

Source: www.gov.za