Sibonisiwe Zulu struggled to hold back tears as she received the keys to a new house, built for her by members of the Maphisa Seventh-day Adventist Church Dorcas Department.

Months earlier, Zulu and her younger sister had been asleep when their home began to collapse around them.

"We were asleep with my younger sister in the middle of the night when we heard unusual sounds of the house collapsing," Zulu recalled. "Fortunately, we managed to escape unharmed."

The collapse left the sisters homeless. In response, the Dorcas Department at Maphisa mobilised volunteers and resources to rebuild the homestead, constructing a new house and adding a toilet facility to improve sanitation.

"I humble myself before God, and I thank Him for sending these people to help us in our time of trouble," Zulu said.

Dorcas Director Millicent Bumbelihle Khumalo said the department had decided early on to do more than replace the house.

"As a department, we were deeply moved by this situation," Khumalo said. "We saw it fit to fully commit to this project of building a house, and we chose to go the extra mile by also constructing a toilet."

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Khumalo paid tribute to the women who saw the project through. "I am so happy that today we are commissioning this house and giving thanks to the Maphisa women, who were so dedicated to this project. May God bless them."

The rebuilding drew support from beyond the congregation. Senator Nonhlanhla Mlotshwa, who is not a member of the Adventist Church, donated five bags of cement towards the project's completion.

Ward Councillor Feluna Ncube said the disaster had stretched the community's capacity to respond, and commended the department for stepping in.

"The Dorcas Department did a great job for the elderly," Ncube said. "As a community, we were not going to manage this situation on our own. We give our highest thanks to the Adventist Church for the work done."

He described the completed house as a practical expression of faith. "Faith without works is dead. They have shown that they truly understand their mission. I urge them not to end here but to continue their good work for other vulnerable people. As a community, we are immensely grateful."

Personal Ministries Director Mpumelelo Mkhwananzi also commended the women's ministry for its response.

"We thank the Dorcas Department for raising the Adventist flag high," Mkhwananzi said. "They committed themselves fully to this project and showed up for the community by dutifully answering the call to serve."