Changing the lives of three women to kick of Women's Month
Jacaranda FM's Good Morning Angels kicked off Women's Month 2025 with the help of our friends at LottoStar.
August is Women's Month — a perfect time to pause and celebrate the sisters who are doing it for us all.
Often, mothers are the ones who care for their families on their own, despite navigating obstacles and challenges uniquely faced by women.
Saturday, 9 August, marks the 30th Women's Day celebration in South Africa, with this year's focus on women in the economy.
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To honour the occasion, Good Morning Angels has partnered with our friends at LottoStar to assist three women who need a little help to continue taking care of their families — and themselves.
The funds were raised by all the participants in the recent LottoStar Fortune Frenzy competition on Jacaranda FM — and this morning, we're giving it to three incredible women who are truly doing the most.
A liver operation for eight-year-old Zelné, daughter of single mom Annetjie
Eight-year-old Zelné is the youngest of three daughters of single mom Annetjie Potgieter. Zelné fell ill in February this year. Initially suspected to be appendicitis, further scans and ultrasounds revealed that Zelné has a choledochal cyst on her liver.
A specialist advised that he will need to remove the cyst, Zelné's gallbladder, and a portion of her small intestine to reconstruct the bile ducts.
As a single mom of three, Annetjie cannot afford medical aid. She managed to raise R131,000 for the operation, but a recent updated quotation puts the cost at R209,138.68.
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With surgery scheduled for 19 August, Annetjie now faces a race against time to raise over R78,000. That’s why her colleague, Michelle reached out to Good Morning Angels.
REQUEST FOR: Eight-year-old Zelné and mom Annetjie Potgieter
ANGEL: Maria Pavli, representing LottoStar
SPONSORING: From the LottoStar Fortune Frenzy funds raised for Good Morning Angels, LottoStar will donate the outstanding R80,000 needed for Zelné's upcoming surgery — enabling her to live without pain.
Helping a young aspiring teacher live free from debilitating endometriosis
Miss X , 26, has completed her foundation phase teaching degree and is currently working as a trainee teacher, pursuing her dream. However, she suffers from the crippling effects of ovarian cysts and severe endometriosis.
She has lived in fear of her menstrual cycle for the past five years, with the pain becoming increasingly unbearable. At times, she’s had to call her parents to help her out of bed and has missed or left school early due to the pain.
Her doctor referred her to a gynaecologist, who in turn referred her to specialist Dr. Abri de Bruin.
Dr. Abri diagnosed her with an extreme case of endometriosis — 10cm cysts on both ovaries, and extensive growths throughout her pelvis and large bowel.
He warned that the cysts must be managed before they rupture, and surgery on the bowel is urgently required before it becomes fully obstructed.
READ: Young Secunda girl slowly losing her eyesight
Miss X does not have medical aid, and the state hospital cannot assist. Dr. Abri and his team have offered to donate their services, but R100,000 is still needed for theatre costs, consumables, and medication.
That's why he reached out to Good Morning Angels on her behalf.
REQUEST FOR: Miss X
REQUEST FROM: Dr. Abri de Bruin, Fertility Specialist
ANGEL: Maria Pavli, representing LottoStar
SPONSORING: From the LottoStar Fortune Frenzy funds raised for Good Morning Angels, LottoStar will donate the R100,000 needed to enable the medical team to assist Miss X as a matter of urgency.
Giving single mom and breadwinner, Lerato, the gift of sight
Lerato Dibe, 37, works as a barista in the canteen of an office building in Midrand. She's ready and serving from 07:00 every morning to provide for herself and her eight-year-old daughter.
One of her regular customers noticed her struggling to see and, with her permission, arranged a consultation with his optometrist, who kindly offered her services for free. Lerato was then referred to a specialist for more extensive testing, also done at no cost.
The diagnosis: Lerato has just 5% vision in her right eye and 50% in her left. The damage was caused by excessive eye rubbing during childhood due to the dusty, smoky conditions she lived in. While her condition will worsen with age, there is hope.
The good news is that her left eye's sight can be improved to 90% through a lens transplant and eyelid correction surgery. The surgeon has offered to waive her fee, but theatre and associated costs will amount to R50,000.
Lerato’s Good Samaritan customer has offered to pay R10,000 and reached out to Good Morning Angels for assistance with the remaining amount.
REQUEST FOR: Lerato Dibe
ANGEL: Maria Pavli, representing LottoStar
SPONSORING: From the LottoStar Fortune Frenzy funds raised for Good Morning Angels, LottoStar will donate the remaining R40,000 needed for Lerato’s eye surgery — and will also contribute an additional R7,000 for any unexpected costs and essentials for her and her daughter.
That's a total of R47,000!
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