If Limpopo had to nominate a Mother Teresa from its ranks, it would surely be Rebecca “Beka” Nstanwisi. Her hard work to better the lives of her community members, whether they are South African or foreign, has earned Nstanwisi a reputation that precedes her wherever she goes and even led to her winning the National Order of the Boabab award. She has dedicated her life to helping those most in need.
Yet Nstanwisi might need some help herself. She has been diagnosed with colon cancer, but is still working to help others. Her courage and endurance has earned her the Investing in the Future Chief Executive’s Award for Excellence this year.
For Nstanwisi the plight of the poor is uppermost in her mind. She helps to build homes for the poor where the government’s housing scheme has failed. And during the year she has also tried to help victims of xenophobia.
“Beka did a wonderful job that no one ever dared to talk about,” says Grace Ngobeni, who nominated her for the Drivers of Change Award.
Nstanwisi was the first person who discovered the desperate Mozambiquans who had been attacked by police dogs, and convinced them to come forward. She assisted them during the trial and gave them counselling. Thus she earned a reputation as someone who will assist anyone in need, no matter which nationality they are, Ngobeni explained.
Nstanwisi also raises funds for the sick and needy.
“She raised funds to the tune of R300 000 for a boy in her community with kidney failure to operated on,” Ngobeni said.
In a province that is increasing losing moms and dads to the dreaded disease, Nstanwisi has also tried to fill a void by caring for Aids orphans. Ngobeni also relates how on many occasions she has arranged free burial for HIV/Aids sufferers who could not make ends meet.
In many cases these burials are for foreigners with no family in South Africa and Nstanwisi then also negotiates burial rites with the local chief or induna. These negotiations can be difficult and she sometimes has to use her own funds to secure a burial site.
“She helped a Mozambiquan in Giyani who spent six months in the government mortuary with no one willing to bury him. Apart from arraning the burial she also convinced the Mozambiquan embassy to attend the funeral,” Ngobeni relates.
Suffering from cancer herself, cancer patients have also become a soft sport for Nstanwisi.
“Limpopo is rife with cancer and people still believe that this has something to do with witchcraft,” Ngobeni said.
Though Nstanwisi is struggling financially, she paid for a student in her community to study mining engineering at the University of Witwatersrand. She has also convinced countless organisations to get involved in worthy projects within her community.
Apart from her National Order award, she also won the Shoprite Checkers Community Builder of the Year in 2005 and in the same year won the Jet Community Builder of the Year. She was also awarded the BMF Limpopo Woman of Excellence and the Premiers awards in 2006.