Fisantekraal 'mom' sleeps on floor to provide haven for abused kids
Elizabeth Maans is a human angel. Nine kids are currently in her care with the youngest being a four-month-old baby.
Lester Kiewit speaks to Elizabeth 'Lizzy' Maans about what drove her to turn her own home into a haven for neglected and abused children.
Kiewit dubs Maans 'a magic mom' for her extraordinary work in Fisantekraal where she lives.
The community leader currently has nine children in her care whom she has rescued from neglect and abuse by alcohol and other drug-addicted parents.
A four-month-old baby is the youngest child in Maans' care.
Her journey started in 2017 when she took in her first abused child.
"I was called to my cousin's home in 2017 and he [the stepfather] was sitting on the three year old girl. People wanted to beat him up, but I called the police and they came. I took the child with me and followed all the processes with the social workers. She was placed in temporarily safe care with me from that day. And after two years, she was put in my care until she is 18 years old. She is 12 years old now."
- Elizabeth Maans, Fisantekraal Community Leader
Maans lives in a 'modest, two-bedroom home' with the nine kids currently in her care and chooses to sleep on the floor in her lounge so that the kids can have somewhere to sleep.
Maans regards the kids as her own and tries to be a mother figure for them.
She is happy as long as her children are warm, safe and have somewhere to stay.
"I just wish I can have a bigger house or an extra structure... maybe an angel will pitch up so my house can be bigger, but for now as long as my children are safe and warm in a warm bed, I'm happy."
- Elizabeth Maans, Fisantekraal Community Leader
Maans says she is fighting against hopelessness and the lack of opportunities in her community; Fisantekraal is a crime-ridden hotbed of gangsterism.
"Crime is taking place all the time. It's terrible where young children from the age of five is taking part in gangsterim and it's not what we want in our community. Every night when we patrol, we see young children walk in groups with older men trying to rob people and break into innocent people's homes who are working so hard. It is heartbreaking. It is not where I want my children to grow up."
- Elizabeth Maans, Fisantekraal Community Leader
Here's to this magic mom changing lives!
Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.