• Nomthandazo Jacobs sold vetkoek by day, then stayed up baking muffins for more than 30 people sleeping outside to fix their grants.

• She used her own money and borrowed flasks to hand out hot drinks at night, saying no one should sleep outside just to get paid.

Nomthandazo Jacobs makes a living selling vetkoek in Delft, Cape Town. But one day, something her customers said touched her heart.

“Two of my elderly customers came to buy vetkoek,” she said. “They told me they were going to eat it later that night while sleeping outside the South African Social Security Agency offices in Bellville. They wanted to be first in line the next morning.”

After they left, Jacobs could not stop thinking about them.

Even though she does not make much money, she uses her earnings to buy baking ingredients, coffee and tea. She also borrowed flasks from her neighbours and started baking muffins.

That night, she hired a car and went to Bellville.

“I could not believe what I saw. Old people sleeping outside in the cold just to access their grants,” said Jacobs. “Something has to be done. They will get sick before they get their money.”

She found out many of them were sleeping there because they were struggling to get their pension payments after changing their cards.

“No one deserves to sleep outside,” she said. “When I started serving them, they were so happy. They could not believe I was giving it to them for free.”

Jacobs said there were many people in the queue, and she is now calling on others to help too. “Let’s show Ubuntu. Even a cup of tea can make a difference.”

In total, she helped more than 30 people, including the elderly customers who first told her about the problem.

Nomalindi Ngcawe, 66, was one of them. “It is rare to see someone helping for free,” she said. “Most people want money. Some even sell the muffins and coffee. That’s why some thought it was a trick. They thought she would ask for money later.”

But Jacobs just wanted to help, and she did.

Pictured above: Nomthandazo Jacobs provided muffins and coffee to Sassa beneficiaries sleeping outside the Sassa Bellville offices in Cape Town.

Image source: Supplied