Collen Mashawana Foundation hands over new home to Vincent Kgabo in Hammanskraal

The Collen Mashawana Foundation today handed over a new, fully furnished home to Vincent Kgabo in Ramotse, Hammanskraal, Tshwane. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of community members who gathered to celebrate the milestone. The handover event was hosted by CMF in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements, the City of Tshwane, the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), Afribiz Invest, Steel World, and the South African Women in Construction and the Built Environment (SAWIC & BE).The new home, built in just one week using Alternative Building Technology (ABT), highlights the power of innovation and collaboration in addressing South Africa’s housing challenges. In remarks during the ceremony, CMF representatives said the project embodies the Foundation’s mission to restore dignity and improve lives through collective action: "This home is not only a roof over someone’s head, it is a symbol of unity and hope. Together, we have demonstrated what can be achieved when compassion meets innovations underscored the importance of empowering women in the construction value chain, noting that female contractors and artisans were actively involved in the building process. The Foundation also extended support to Jeffrey, a young neighbour who has been caring for Kgabo, by awarding him a bursary to further his education. The handover marks the third home completed by CMF in just three weeks. Beyond this handover, the Collen Mashawana Foundation has undertaken several other projects: Through its “One-Brick-at-a-Time” campaign, CMF aims to build 100 homes for the homeless, mobilising public and private contributions to restore dignity for the most vulnerable. In partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), CMF committed to rebuilding 10 fully furnished homes for families affected by the 2022 floods in KwaZulu-Natal, creating local jobs and sourcing materials from nearby communities. The Foundation’s “Madi Ashu” water programme delivered purified boreholes and safe water access to rural communities in the Eastern Cape, targeting elderly people, people with disabilities and child-headed households. Most recently, CMF adopted the Good Hope Foundation Centre in Johannesburg, donating furniture, educational materials, food and long-term support to children in under-resourced inner-city schools.