Hope can begin in the unlikeliest places. For one young girl from Zweletemba, foster care was not the end of her story… it was the start of an extraordinary new chapter.
Western Cape, South Africa (15 October 2025) – Sometimes, the most powerful stories are born from pain… and transformed through perseverance. For Nomfihlakalo “Fifi” Twala, losing her mother at a young age could have ended her dreams before they began. Instead, it became the start of a journey defined by courage, community and the unwavering kindness of those who chose to help.
When Fifi and her sister lost their mother in 2016, life changed overnight.
The sisters were placed in foster care with their aunt through the Western Cape Department of Social Development. It was a time filled with uncertainty and grief, but social workers like Ms Liesl Siljeur and Ms Chandre Pienaar stepped in to guide them with care and compassion.
“Our social worker, Ms Liesl Siljeur, welcomed us with warmth and loved us as her own. She guided my sister and I through the transitioning process,” Fifi recalls.
Today, nearly ten years later, Fifi is a fifth-year medical student at the University of Cape Town. A young woman with a future as bright as her spirit. Her story is one of many shining examples emerging from South Africa’s foster care system, where more than 42,000 children are being supported to find stability, opportunity, and hope.
Earlier this month, Fifi returned to Zweletemba (the community where she grew up) to share her journey with a group of foster children during the Department’s Foster Child Dialogue. The gathering provided a space for children in care to express their dreams and challenges while connecting with those who’ve walked similar paths.
Fifi told the group, “You may feel neglected or have experienced insults in your community. Life may not have started easy for you, but it does not have to be the end of your story. Use the pain, those traumatic memories, let them teach you something and push you to be a better version of yourself. Life doesn’t end in Zweletemba or Worcester. You just need to keep pushing, reach for the opportunities that are out there, and ask for help when you need it. I believe in your story.”
Her words left many inspired. A reminder that hope can come from anywhere, and that the cycle of care continues when those once helped choose to help others.
Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Jaco Londt, shared his admiration, “We see the need for child protection services growing every year. It is easy to become despondent. But then you hear stories like Fifi’s, and you are reminded of the incredibly important work of DSD. Fifi’s story is one of incredible resilience, perseverance, and hope. She is an inspiration to us all.”
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He added that the department’s funding for Child Protection and Child and Youth Care services has grown from R370 million to R402 million this year, a reflection of the province’s ongoing commitment to protecting and empowering vulnerable children.
“There are so many more children like Fifi who have the potential to reach amazing heights,” Londt said. “I encourage residents to see how they can get involved, whether as foster parents or by supporting organisations through the Cape Care Fund.”
Fifi’s journey reminds us that a single act of care can ripple through generations. It’s proof that when love meets opportunity, lives are transformed. And sometimes, all it takes is one person… a social worker, a teacher or a community, to change a child’s story forever.
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