Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels initiative has raised more than R4 million in relief for flood-affected communities in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, two provinces that form a significant part of the station’s broadcast footprint across four provinces.
The campaign followed a devastating period of torrential rainfall that claimed at least 37 lives and displaced thousands of people.
Widespread Damage Declared a National Disaster
The floods caused extensive destruction, with overflowing rivers, collapsed bridges and damaged infrastructure leaving many communities without access to water, electricity and essential services.
Both Limpopo and Mpumalanga were declared disaster areas by the South African government, with preliminary damage estimates running into the billions of rand.
Urgent Needs Identified on the Ground
Disaster relief organisation Gift of the Givers identified immediate needs including bottled water, non-perishable food, baby formula and nappies, toiletries and other basic essentials.
In response to the scale of the crisis, Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels launched Project Flood Relief – an urgent on-air and digital campaign calling on listeners, corporates and advertisers to support communities hardest hit by the floods.
An Overwhelming Community Response
The response to Project Flood Relief was swift and remarkable, with more than R4 million in assistance collected within just five days.
This included over R1 million in monetary donations, along with substantial in-kind contributions: more than 60 tonnes of bottled water, eight tonnes of canned goods, five tonnes of dried food, four tonnes of baby supplies, four tonnes of toiletries and 10 tonnes of dog food.
All donations have been handed over to Gift of the Givers, who have begun sorting and distributing aid to affected communities.
Martin Bester on the Power of Collective Action
Martin Bester, host of Breakfast With Martin Bester, says the station felt compelled to act when the scale of the disaster became clear.
“When we saw how badly Limpopo and Mpumalanga were affected by the recent floods, and knowing how important these provinces are to us as a radio station, we knew we had to step in,” he says. “There weren’t many solutions being offered at the time, so we decided to do something.”
Bester adds that the campaign highlighted the strength of the Jacaranda FM community. “The response from our listeners was immediate. The needs were basic, which meant everyone could help – whether it was one bottle of water or a large donation. One child donated the R20 they received from the tooth fairy, and the very next call was a corporate contribution of R200,000. That range of generosity made this campaign incredibly special.”
A Core Part of Jacaranda FM’s Identity
Jacaranda FM Managing Director Vuyani Dombo says Project Flood Relief reflects the station’s ongoing commitment to making a meaningful difference in the communities it serves.
“Limpopo and Mpumalanga are a vital part of our broadcast footprint, and when our listeners are hurting, we feel a responsibility to act,” says Dombo. “Raising over R4 million in assistance in such a short time is an extraordinary achievement and will make a tangible difference to families who have lost everything.”
Dombo adds that Good Morning Angels exists to turn compassion into action. “We’re deeply grateful to everyone who contributed and to Gift of the Givers for ensuring that the aid reaches those who need it most. Together, we’ve shown what’s possible when a community comes together with purpose.”
Two Decades of Impact Through Good Morning Angels
As Good Morning Angels approaches its 20-year milestone in 2025, Jacaranda FM continues to demonstrate its role beyond entertainment – using its platform to mobilise compassion, action and hope during times of crisis.
Jacaranda FM extends its sincere thanks to every listener, advertiser and partner who supported Project Flood Relief and helped restore dignity and essential support to communities affected by the floods.
For more information, visit www.jacarandafm.com.
Watch this space for updates in the General News category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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