KZN 2019 ACTIVATE! Change Driver Ntwenhle Nkosingiphile Leads Mandela Day House Rebuild & Health Drive in Imbali

This Nelson Mandela Day, youth leadership turned 67 minutes into lasting change in Imbali Unit 18.

Ntwenhle Nkosingiphile, a 2019 ACTIVATE! Change Driver from KwaZulu-Natal, spearheaded a dual-impact community initiative on Thursday, 17 July 2026 that addressed two of Madiba’s core priorities: dignity and health. Instead of a once-off gesture, Nkosingiphile and his partners focused on restoring both homes and wellbeing in Ward 15.

Restore Hope: Rebuilding the Mthalane Home

From 9:30 AM at Imbali Unit 18, Encane, ACTIVATE! partnered with the Masakhe Youth Foundation, Just Like Heaven, Sisopsbiz, DUCT, the uMsunduzi Municipality Area-Based Management Office, the uMsunduzi Skills Development Sector, and members of the Imbali Unit 18 community to rebuild a family home destroyed by a candle fire in February 2026.

More than 25 volunteers came together to support the Mthalane family.

“The house restoration project was an incredible and fulfilling experience. As ACTIVATE!, we had the privilege of helping restore hope and dignity to the family. Different stakeholders across the uMsunduzi Municipality united for a common purpose,” said Ntwenhle Nkosingiphile.

On the day, volunteers made significant progress: repainting the house, repairing the roof, restoring the garden, removing damaged floor tiles, cleaning the yard, and installing door frames.

“Together, we achieved significant progress. The collective effort demonstrated the power of community collaboration and volunteerism,” Nkosingiphile added.

Restore Health: Free Services at E Unit 18 Community Hall

At the same time, at the E Unit 18 Community Hall, the KZN Department of Health hosted a free health activation for Unit 18 residents, bringing essential healthcare services directly into the community.

The day ran under the theme: “It’s in our hands. Let’s restore hope. Let’s restore dignity.”

Impact Beyond Mandela Day

This initiative highlights what ACTIVATE! alumni are doing long after the programme ends. Nkosingiphile is mobilizing young people, NGOs, and government to deliver tangible impact in Pietermaritzburg — moving beyond handouts to rebuilding infrastructure and improving access to healthcare.

For Ward 15 residents, the day meant practical support: a new roof over one family’s head, and health services at the doorstep of hundreds more.

“The project was a tremendous success. The Mthalane family expressed their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the support they received. Beyond restoring a home, we strengthened relationships with stakeholders who share ACTIVATE!’s vision of building resilient and empowered communities,” Nkosingiphile said.

It was also inspiring to see participants from the ACD In-Community Programme step up to the challenge, demonstrating leadership, commitment, and a genuine passion for serving their community. This initiative truly reflected the spirit of Mandela Day by showing that when people work together, we can restore not only homes but also hope.

ACTIVATE! Change Drivers are a network of young leaders trained to drive social change across South Africa. This Mandela Day project shows that network in action.

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About the Author:

Thatoyaone Moepetsane is a political analyst and commentator on governance and civic participation in South Africa. He is a member of the ACTIVATE! Writers Hub and appears regularly on Gateway FM and other platforms.