{"id":43998,"date":"2024-11-28T10:50:21","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T08:50:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T10:39:50","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T08:39:50","slug":"community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/","title":{"rendered":"Community unites to support fire victim with fundraising race"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Memories of her children and grandchildren, items of sentimental value, and awards were among the possessions lost when Nontuthuzelo Conjwa-Dia\u2019s home was destroyed by fire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the aftermath, her community rallied to assist her, organising a race to raise funds for the rebuilding of her home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After years of investing in the construction and later renovation of her Misty Mount home, Conjwa-Dia found herself homeless when a veld fire spread to her house. For her, July 11 will forever be a nightmare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was a very windy and cold day. At around 19:45, we saw a fire in the veld, but it was far from my house. We thought it would die out as the wind was pushing it away from our direction. We went to bed after midnight as I was drowsy from my medication, but I felt uneasy and woke up to see a flame coming from the ceiling towards the end of my bed,\u201d she recounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Conjwa-Dia said she grabbed her phone and keys to open the doors. She then woke her son. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAfter struggling to wake him up, he rushed for water to try and extinguish the fire. It was too late; the entire ceiling was on fire. Firefighters were called, but due to many fires that night, they arrived two hours later. By then, the house was still burning, but nothing could be saved,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Conjwa-Dia is grateful that she and her son were unharmed. An extension added in 1999 increased the house to three bedrooms, a lounge, and a kitchen. Conjwa-Dia, an author, is trying to come to terms with her loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs I cope with the trauma, I realise all I had is gone\u2014irreplaceable memories of my children and grandchildren, items of sentimental value, awards, and medals of my family, certificates, and book collections. It\u2019s like a part of my life and family has died,\u201d she lamented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her studio contained computers, printers, external hard drives, and stock of her recently awarded books for sale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBookshelves with countless books, journals, and diaries are lost. I just need the structure of my house back. I\u2019m not particular about how people help\u2014I welcome any support,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those willing to assist can contact her at 066 395 3946 or via WhatsApp at 072 034 2990. She currently lives in a temporary two-roomed structure provided by OR Tambo District Municipality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon hearing of her loss, the Sikho Sonke Association organised a race to raise funds for Conjwa-Dia\u2019s aid. In an exclusive interview with <span>Mthatha Express<\/span>, race organiser, Sililandile Ndlangwe, shared that the race aimed to unite people from different backgrounds in support of Conjwa-Dia. The event took three months to plan and execute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn brief, different stakeholders from various societal sectors came together under the Sikho Sonke Association banner. Despite representing different organisations, a shared upbringing of sharing the little we have with those in need united us to act rather than just express sympathy,\u201d he said. Ndlangwe mentioned that the event uncovered raw talent and fostered new relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ndlangwe concluded, <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Blockquote\" data-pos=\"middle\" id=\"embed_74224ef1\">\n<div class=\"text\">We want to help rebuild the burnt house. Lastly, veld fires are burdensome even to economically active individuals. We are pleased that societies and children participated that day. We hope for increased momentum in the future. God will richly bless those who support initiatives like this.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Memories of her children and grandchildren, items of sentimental value, and awards were among the possessions lost when Nontuthuzelo Conjwa-Dia\u2019s home was destroyed by fire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":44000,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"63861c97-c8ab-426a-98fc-2b5ee30e424d","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"Zolile Menzelwa","background_color":"","block_editor":"","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-43998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Community unites to support fire victim with fundraising race | Mthatha Express<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Community unites to support fire victim with fundraising race\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Memories of her children and grandchildren, items of sentimental value, and awards were among the possessions lost when Nontuthuzelo Conjwa-Dia\u2019s home was destroyed by fire.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mthatha Express\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MthathaExpress\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-11-28T08:50:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-21T08:39:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/6f9c019fe6484d5ebd6428364bced664.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"548\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Zolile Menzelwa\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@EP_Media24\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@EP_Media24\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mthatha Express\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Mthatha Express\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7e2772c1748d510e0433368691b50bb1\"},\"headline\":\"Community unites to support fire victim with fundraising race\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-11-28T08:50:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-21T08:39:50+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":557,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/6f9c019fe6484d5ebd6428364bced664.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2024\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/\",\"name\":\"Community unites to support fire victim with fundraising race | Mthatha Express\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/6f9c019fe6484d5ebd6428364bced664.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-11-28T08:50:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-21T08:39:50+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/6f9c019fe6484d5ebd6428364bced664.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/6f9c019fe6484d5ebd6428364bced664.jpg\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":548,\"caption\":\"Nontuthuzelo Conjwa-Dia\u2019s home was destroyed by fire in July. In the aftermath, her community rallied to assist her, and the Sikho Sonke Association organised a race to raise funds for Conjwa-Dia\u2019s aid. Photo: SUPPLIED\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Community unites to support fire victim with fundraising race\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/\",\"name\":\"Mthatha Express\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Mthatha Express\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/mthatha-express-site-icon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/mthatha-express-site-icon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Mthatha Express\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/MthathaExpress\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/EP_Media24\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/express_newspapers\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@expressonline3000\"],\"description\":\"Mthatha Express has been the eyes, ears, and voice of Mthatha and surrounding towns and villages for almost a decade. Established with the goal of keeping our community informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region, with 70,000 free copies delivered across the former Transkei area every week. It is also distributed once a month in East London.\",\"email\":\"mthathaexpress@novusmedia.co.za\",\"telephone\":\"+27472932973\",\"legalName\":\"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd\",\"foundingDate\":\"2025-01-01\",\"vatID\":\"4100318916\",\"taxID\":\"2000\\\/018234\\\/07\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"51\",\"maxValue\":\"200\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7e2772c1748d510e0433368691b50bb1\",\"name\":\"Mthatha Express\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/16bf7f093f8719629b4d16068cd9ee79b087e706ae5cedc7dd95db655da066a3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/16bf7f093f8719629b4d16068cd9ee79b087e706ae5cedc7dd95db655da066a3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/16bf7f093f8719629b4d16068cd9ee79b087e706ae5cedc7dd95db655da066a3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Mthatha Express\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/author\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Community unites to support fire victim with fundraising race | Mthatha Express","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Community unites to support fire victim with fundraising race","og_description":"Memories of her children and grandchildren, items of sentimental value, and awards were among the possessions lost when Nontuthuzelo Conjwa-Dia\u2019s home was destroyed by fire.","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/","og_site_name":"Mthatha Express","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MthathaExpress\/","article_published_time":"2024-11-28T08:50:21+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-03-21T08:39:50+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":548,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/6f9c019fe6484d5ebd6428364bced664.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Zolile Menzelwa","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@EP_Media24","twitter_site":"@EP_Media24","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Mthatha Express","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/"},"author":{"name":"Mthatha Express","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/7e2772c1748d510e0433368691b50bb1"},"headline":"Community unites to support fire victim with fundraising race","datePublished":"2024-11-28T08:50:21+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-21T08:39:50+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/"},"wordCount":557,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/6f9c019fe6484d5ebd6428364bced664.jpg","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2024","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/","name":"Community unites to support fire victim with fundraising race | Mthatha Express","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/6f9c019fe6484d5ebd6428364bced664.jpg","datePublished":"2024-11-28T08:50:21+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-21T08:39:50+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/6f9c019fe6484d5ebd6428364bced664.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/6f9c019fe6484d5ebd6428364bced664.jpg","width":1024,"height":548,"caption":"Nontuthuzelo Conjwa-Dia\u2019s home was destroyed by fire in July. In the aftermath, her community rallied to assist her, and the Sikho Sonke Association organised a race to raise funds for Conjwa-Dia\u2019s aid. Photo: SUPPLIED"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/community-unites-to-support-fire-victim-with-fundraising-race-20241126\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Community unites to support fire victim with fundraising race"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/","name":"Mthatha Express","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#organization","name":"Mthatha Express","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/mthatha-express-site-icon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/mthatha-express-site-icon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Mthatha Express"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MthathaExpress\/","https:\/\/x.com\/EP_Media24","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/express_newspapers\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@expressonline3000"],"description":"Mthatha Express has been the eyes, ears, and voice of Mthatha and surrounding towns and villages for almost a decade. Established with the goal of keeping our community informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region, with 70,000 free copies delivered across the former Transkei area every week. It is also distributed once a month in East London.","email":"mthathaexpress@novusmedia.co.za","telephone":"+27472932973","legalName":"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd","foundingDate":"2025-01-01","vatID":"4100318916","taxID":"2000\/018234\/07","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"51","maxValue":"200"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/7e2772c1748d510e0433368691b50bb1","name":"Mthatha Express","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16bf7f093f8719629b4d16068cd9ee79b087e706ae5cedc7dd95db655da066a3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16bf7f093f8719629b4d16068cd9ee79b087e706ae5cedc7dd95db655da066a3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16bf7f093f8719629b4d16068cd9ee79b087e706ae5cedc7dd95db655da066a3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Mthatha Express"},"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/author\/mthathaexpress\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/6f9c019fe6484d5ebd6428364bced664.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":44761,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/veld-fire-leaves-libode-author-homeless-20240718-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":43998,"position":0},"title":"Veld fire leaves Libode author homeless","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"18 July 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Author Nontuthezelo Conjwa-Dia (60), from Misty Mount in Libode, has been left homeless after her five-roomed house was burnt to ashes by a veld fire started by an unknown person, last week.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3ec2c0ab24aa4a11aac69525aee0301b.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3ec2c0ab24aa4a11aac69525aee0301b.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3ec2c0ab24aa4a11aac69525aee0301b.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/3ec2c0ab24aa4a11aac69525aee0301b.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44776,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/author-uses-her-book-to-mend-broken-families-20240716\/","url_meta":{"origin":43998,"position":1},"title":"Author uses her book to mend broken families","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"18 July 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Award winner and author, Nontuthuzelo Conjwa-Dia from Misty Mount in Libode, confirmed that she had launched her book Engaging Families on Youth Realities, subtitled Family Resource and Handbook.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ce0f669c1ea246f6906c37d40a3ac2c9.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ce0f669c1ea246f6906c37d40a3ac2c9.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ce0f669c1ea246f6906c37d40a3ac2c9.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44720,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/support-for-sheep-farmers-after-veld-fire-20240723\/","url_meta":{"origin":43998,"position":2},"title":"Support for sheep farmers after veld fire","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"25 July 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"FARMERS from Izilandana Village in Qumbu, whose sheep and goats died when they were affected by the veld fires, expressed joy that MEC for the Eastern Cape Department for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nonceba Kontsiwe, brought them feed to a","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2f0f5e21b18d49b49680212c16c7d31e.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2f0f5e21b18d49b49680212c16c7d31e.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2f0f5e21b18d49b49680212c16c7d31e.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2f0f5e21b18d49b49680212c16c7d31e.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2f0f5e21b18d49b49680212c16c7d31e.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2f0f5e21b18d49b49680212c16c7d31e.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44444,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/veld-fire-damage-estimated-at-r30-million-20240903\/","url_meta":{"origin":43998,"position":3},"title":"Veld fire damage estimated at R30 million","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"5 September 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Thousands of hectares of grazing land were destroyed, and millions of rands in damages and loss of livestock are some of the stark reminders of the pain caused by the recent blazing veld fires that targeted certain areas around the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM).","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/71cdf4b349fe4bfda5c77d3011a610b0.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/71cdf4b349fe4bfda5c77d3011a610b0.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/71cdf4b349fe4bfda5c77d3011a610b0.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/71cdf4b349fe4bfda5c77d3011a610b0.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/71cdf4b349fe4bfda5c77d3011a610b0.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47142,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/working-on-fire-equip-residents-20230613\/","url_meta":{"origin":43998,"position":4},"title":"Working on Fire equip residents","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"15 June 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Fire from Working on Fire in the Eastern Cape partnered with the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Winnie Madikizela Mandela Local Municipality, for a Fire Awareness Campaign Launch as part of fire season readiness activities last week.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c057a512dc884611bf05e28d5a7b4e3c.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c057a512dc884611bf05e28d5a7b4e3c.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c057a512dc884611bf05e28d5a7b4e3c.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c057a512dc884611bf05e28d5a7b4e3c.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c057a512dc884611bf05e28d5a7b4e3c.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51387,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/siblings-die-in-house-fire-20210810\/","url_meta":{"origin":43998,"position":5},"title":"Ngcobo siblings die in house fire","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"12 August 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Iviwe Deli (15) and her younger sister, Ayamkela Deli (13), from Mzikayise Dalasile Senior Secondary School in Ngcobo, were described as learners who were dedicated to their school work, especially when it came to mathematics.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Mthatha Express","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43998"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43998\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43998"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=43998"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=43998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}