Beka Ntsanwisi is a 39 year old woman born in Limpopo known as mother Theresa of Limpopo. Some of her local people call her "mama courage". She is a presenter for Munghana Lonene FM radio. Beka Ntsanwisi is very ill. She suffers from advanced colon cancer and she walks with crutches.

Despite her sickness, Beka Ntsanwisi runs projects within her community. One of her projects feeds thousands of people in the rural communities. She is also involved in a project that includes the building of Pfukani and a care centre for the disables near Giyani. She owns 21 hectares of farmland in the Makumeke village near Tzaneen. That is where the people plant cotton and vegetables to sell and also to feed their families. Beka is employed as a disc jockey and talk show host at Munghana Lonene FM. She uses her voice on the radio station to assist disadvantaged people in the area to stand up do something for themselves.

Beka is also a motivational speaker, and speak to women in various occasions. She has done so much for her community but she always feels like it is not enough. She knows exactly what it means to be disable and the ignorant around people. She has also helped women to start their own brick-and fence-making business, "Tiyimeleni Va Manana" (Work for yourselves, mothers) in Makumeke. There are so many programmes that this wonderful woman committed herself on. She also runs a shelter and food for HIV/AIDS victims.

Beka Ntsanwisi won the 2005 Shoprite Checkers/SABC2 woman of the Year Award in the social welfare category. On the night of the award ceremony she collapsed before the event and her doctor had to attend the event in order to take care of her. She managed to wake up before the hand over of the award. She couldn't stand on her own she was in a wheelchair and she could barely speak but when she did, she promised to continue to work for her community until the day she dies. Her recent award came from the World Impactors Ministries International which is the wing of Rheema Church. She also won Black Management Forum (BMF) Woman of Excellence Award.

Beka Ntsanwisi received a lot of support from the government, her husband, Solomon, and her 17-year-old daughter Nkhesani. She said that though she is suffering she always put other people's pain first. She is one of many women that South Africa salutes for their strengths and willingness to help make communities better places to live and grow. Long live "Mother Courage", long live!

Sources:-

• Vukuzenzele
• South Africa Women
• Herald
   

Cheryl Pratley is a nurse by profession and a co-founder of Shepherd's Keep in KwaZulu Natal.  Shepherd's Keep is a temporary home for abandoned babies from newborn to six months old. Most of these babies are HIV-positive and have been deserted by their own mothers. She takes care of these babies and gives them hope of life.

During the time of her practice as a nurse she used to witness small babies dying in her arms and she decided that when she retires she will always take care of the children. She applied to be a foster parent and the application was approved by the Department of Welfare. In 1998 Cheryl opened a home for abandoned children and named it "Shepherd's Keep". This home was the first shelter of its kind in KwaZulu Natal.

The first baby that Cheryl took care of was the one that made her realise how much her services were needed. Unfortunately, the baby died from complications at only five months old. Her heart ached from the death of that baby boy but made to continue taking care of more babies. Cheryl's home could only accommodate 20 babies at that time and soon the home became too little. That is because there were more babies brought in the shelter everyday. The demand kept on growing day by day. She then had to look for a bigger space to keep more children. Luckily for her she found one on the Bluff in Durban. Today, Shepherd's Keep can accommodate up to 60 babies and is equipped with all the proper equipment needed for their care.

Cheryl has dedication to children and refers to it as a calling from God. She has strong Christian values that made her to understand and devotes her time to take care of abandoned and HIV/ADS infected children. She gets support to do all the work from her husband.

Cheryl works in conjunction with the Durban police, who bring the babies to her. She also works with social workers, who help place them with foster parents. She is a very dedicated woman who makes herself available day and night for these babies. Even the community where Cheryl lives can not stop praising her for her dedication. Cheryl says that she only gets the wisdom from God and she is also passionate about taking care of helpless angels.  

In 2006 Cheryl was announced as the winner of the Clarins/Fairlady Most Dynamisante Woman. She also received R150 000 prize money at a gala event at Vodaworld Midrand. Cheryl said that she will never stop doing the work she does. The door to Shepherd's Keep is always open. She believes that the beautiful feeling of peace, love and warmth is there because of God's presence in every room.

Sources:-

• Shepherdskeep
• 3rd Ear Music
• Shepherdskeep