Destructive fire ignited Mzukisi Thoba’s passion to help others

Nelson Mandela Bay community activist Mzukisi Thoba says helping residents in need is more of a calling than a duty and the recognition as one of The Herald NMU Citizen of the Year category award winners will open doors for his foundation to assist more people in socioeconomic distress.

The burning of two houses in 2017 which left KwaNobuhle families destitute birthed a relentless passion in Thoba to assist, which led to the establishment of his nonprofit organisation Sinako-We Can in 2019.

He has clinched the title of The Herald NMU Citizen of the Year winner in the community category.

Thoba said when his two neighbours’ homes were gutted, he could not shake off the need to assist every time he passed the houses when he went to work and returned every day.

When he could not get the municipality to assist the families quickly enough, he took it upon himself to knock on doors asking for donations.

“This too did not yield the expected results because the organisations wanted to assist registered organisations and I was just an individual with a passion,” he said.

However, this did not demotivate Thoba.

Instead, he organised a concert to raise funds for the families and helped rebuild their homes.

He has not looked back.

It was for this work that Thoba was initially nominated as the Herald NMU Citizen of the Year in 2017, but he did not win.

After the NPO was established in 2019, he roped in other like-minded people and they have rebuilt seven homes.

“We started helping people and families who were affected by the flash floods.

“We would knock on doors asking for donations and the municipality would provide mattresses and food parcels,” Thoba said.

“My main concern was where these people were going to sleep with the mattresses and with what they would cook the food provided because they had nothing.” 

Sinako-We Can has a signed memorandum of understanding with the correctional services department which provides inmates and parolees with work by building houses.

The KwaNobuhle Build-It store provides material when needed.

Thoba said they struggled with transportation when they needed to visit people, fetch donations and distribute them.

“We do this kind of work not because we are bored,” he said.

“We have been sent by God and our ancestors. It’s a calling and the people in the NPO also believe in this.”

The NPO also runs a daily soup kitchen feeding schoolchildren.

“There is eight of us in the organisation,” he said.

“Three of us are employed, while others donate their time.

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