As festive lights begin to sparkle across Johannesburg and families prepare for holiday gatherings, there are people whose Christmas wishes look very different from the rest. They are not hoping for gifts under a tree or lavish meals. Instead, their deepest desires centre on the children, addicts, and vulnerable communities they serve daily – often with limited resources.
In Alexandra, where Ratang Bana has long been a lifeline for children and young people battling hunger, trauma, and the ripple effects of addiction, its founder Ingrid Moloi told Our City News that her Christmas wish is simple: dignity, stability, and safety for the children who arrive at her door. “Every day we face young people who come from households where addiction has torn families apart; you see a child who should be excited for Christmas instead worrying about where they will sleep or whether their parents will come home sober. My wish is for them to experience just one day of peace,” said Moloi.
She said while Ratang Bana continues to grow in impact, funding gaps make festive periods particularly tough. Demand for meals skyrockets, drop-ins increase, and December brings heightened vulnerability as community structures temporarily shut down. “People think NPOs rest in December, but that is when we work the hardest.
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We need funding for food, counselling, and safe spaces. My Christmas wish is for sustained support – not only during the festive season, but throughout the year,” she said. My Christmas wish is for sustained support – not only during the festive season, but throughout the year.
At Itlhokomeleng Old Age Home in Alexandra, 81-year-old Letta Kgwilli has a Christmas wish that is tender and modest, yet deeply meaningful. “I just want us old people to be spoilt a little. Maybe a Christmas party, some gifts, some music and just have a good time,” she said with a gentle smile.
Kgwilli has lived at the home since 2016. She had hoped to spend this Christmas with her granddaughter, but that plan changed when the young woman opened a new business. “She will not be able to look after me while she is running the business, so I will stay here.
I understand; life is hard. I just hope we can still feel special on Christmas Day,” Kgwilli said.
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