Good Morning Angels: Single mom gets retrenchment letter during lockdown

BACKGROUND: Gugu Zikalala from Durban is a single mom to her seven-year-old daughter, Asemahle. She was so happy when she found a job to earn an income while finishing her 3rd year studies in Education. She is focused on creating a better future for herself and her little princess. However, two months ago, she received a letter of retrenchment due to the lockdown.

Gugu has applied for UIF without success and she’s been baking and doing what she can to provide for her and Asemahle. Her daughter has gone back to school, but without a lunchbox. Her white sports takkies needed for school were so tight, she asked for a foot massage after school. Gugu realised that she just can't cover the basics anymore and she also does not have money to buy baking supplies to keep them going. This broke her heart and that’s when she wrote to Good Morning Angels and LottoStar, with love ...

REQUEST FOR: Gugu and Asemahle Zikalala 

ANGEL: LottoStar … with love

SPONSORING: LottoStar is joining forces with Good Morning Angels with a special "With Love” fund to give added assistance to as many people as possible during this challenging 2020 pandemic. From this fund, LottoStar will assist Gugu with R15,000 to help with food and new white sports takkies for Asemahle!

ORIGINAL REQUEST:

Good morning Team 

I trust you are well. I'm not sure if this is the right platform for my request and my apologies if its not. My name is Gugu Zikalala, I reside in Durban. I always listen to your show through the app. I hear and see the good things you've done thus far for many people.

I may be asking for a lot, but can I please have some assistance? My daughter and I are barely surviving. I was retrenched at work and have no income for the past two months. I did try to claim UIF, but could not because my employer is claiming.  I've not received the payments yet other staff have . I'm just given the run around. 

My daughter has returned back at school. She has no daily essentials to carry a healthy meal and today I was so sad when she returned to school because her sport takkies were too tight she asked for a massage. All I'm asking for is a grocery voucher and a pair of white sport takkies please.

I'm a 3rd year student studying towards my bachelors in education. I bake on the side to make an income, but I've run out of money. Please help us if you can?

Thank You

Gugu Zikalala