Local hero puts childhood lessons into practice

When residents of struggling rural communities need help, they often know exactly who to call. Not a government department or a charity, but Nosipho Tunyiswa, a 50-year-old Cambridge resident who spends much of her own time and money helping some of the Eastern Cape’s most vulnerable communities. The Daily Dispatch Local Heroes nominee uses income from leasing property, together with donations from family and friends, to support projects ranging from community food gardens and youth development initiatives to clearing overgrown public spaces that have become safety hazards.

Although she does not operate through a formal nonprofit organisation, Tunyiswa, who hails from Twecu village, has become a familiar figure in communities where residents often feel forgotten and people regularly turn to her for assistance. Her commitment to helping others stems from lessons learnt during her childhood in a missionary family. “We grew up sharing what we had with people who came to us for help,” Tunyiswa said.

“Seeing that from a young age shaped me and encouraged me to become involved in helping others while I was still in high school.” She said she did not work from a dedicated office and instead travelled to wherever her help was needed. “I am now based in Cambridge and don’t have a specific office, but whenever people call me for assistance, I travel to wherever they are,” she said. Over the years she has become involved in a wide range of projects, often stepping in where communities feel they have been neglected. One example is tackling overgrown grass in residential areas when it becomes a danger to residents.