- Three vulnerable beneficiaries receive clothes, blankets and winter essentials
BY LINDELWA MYENI
MBABANE – For Thobile Shongwe, the biting Hlathikhulu winter has been more than just uncomfortable.
Cold air finds its way into the house she calls home, while the absence of enough blankets has made freezing nights especially difficult. But this winter, a simple act of kindness from fellow EmaSwati has brought her much-needed warmth — and renewed hope.
Shongwe is one of three beneficiaries in the Hlathikhulu area who have received assistance through the Eswatini Positive News (EPN) Winter Drive, an initiative that mobilised members of the public to donate clothes, blankets, jerseys, shoes and other winter essentials to vulnerable people.
The other beneficiaries are Gogo Sidzandza Msibi of Nkowane and Kenny Dlamini of Makhalatsini.
For Shongwe, who lost her only child in 1981 and has no other children, the donations arrived at a particularly difficult time as temperatures dropped and the cold began taking its toll.
“Thank you very much to those who donated the clothes. It’s like they knew how cold it is here in Hlathikhulu; we are even catching flu,” she said.
She explained that her house allows cold air to enter and that she did not have blankets to adequately protect herself from the cold. The winter clothing therefore represented far more than donated items — it offered some relief from conditions she has had to endure daily.
At Nkowane, the Winter Drive also brought an emotional moment for Msibi, who lives with her only child and grandchildren.
Msibi had previously reached out for assistance because of the difficult condition of her home. She explained that the structure in which she currently lives was built by her child, who took responsibility for everything from cutting the wood to putting the house together.
She said this happened despite her husband being alive at the time, as he had not built a house for her.
When the donated items were finally presented to her, Msibi could not hide her emotions. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to the EmaSwati who responded to the appeal and came to her aid.
Dlamini of Makhalatsini became the third beneficiary reached through the initiative.
EPN launched the Winter Drive at the beginning of the cold season, calling on EmaSwati to demonstrate the spirit of Ubuntu by donating winter essentials to individuals and families struggling to protect themselves against harsh weather conditions.
The initiative has demonstrated how items that may appear ordinary in one household — a blanket, jersey, pair of shoes or warm clothes — can make a meaningful difference in another person’s life.
For the three Hlathikhulu beneficiaries, the donations provided more than protection from the cold. They carried a message that they had not been forgotten.
Through the Winter Drive, EPN sought to promote a culture of compassion and collective responsibility, showing that when communities come together, even relatively small acts of generosity can restore dignity, comfort and hope to people facing difficult circumstances.
