Recycling plastic pays off for granny as she gets nominated for a global award
Former Elim Hospital nurse up for AfriCan EARTHIzens’Honoree Award 2025
Benson Ntlemo
Granny Ercy Ngcobo, 94, a retired nurse is known for her deep love for nature.“Even now in her 90s, she spends time watching the program about animals on TV. She observes animals and obviously gets fascinated about how they care for one another,” says her daughter Mrs Thobekile Twala about her mother.She is known in the area where she stays for her fascination with recycling.
This has paid off because she has been nominated for a global award, the AfriCAN EARTHizens Honoree Awards to be held in Rivonia on April 22.The event will be held at Africlassic, 21A Henry Road at 12hrs00pm.Her daughter Mrs Thobekile Twala was happy for her mother’s achievement.She says from long time ago, her mother used to crotchet hook to make beautiful things.
Recently, she decided to make carrier bags into colourful bathroom mats. She also made necklaces.Initially she game people around her and taught them how to make them.She later decided to sell them because of the demand.“My mother is not selfish. She would invite anyone interested to learn how plastic waste can be turned into something beautiful,” said Mrs Twala.She says one of the hosts of the awards, saw one of the maths she made from plastic and she got impressed.“These awards are given to people connected with the earth and committed to preserving it.
My mother fits the bill and that is why she was nominated,” said Mrs Twala who added that the event would enable her mother to share her story with a wider audience.“Her story also shows that no matter our age, we can still make a difference,” added Mrs Twala.But who is granny Ercy Ngcobo?Born in Valdesia in the Makhado Local Municipality in 1930, she was the second of twelve children.She trained as a nurse at Elim Hospital.She later went to McCord Hospital to further her midwifery studies.Later she went to work at Edenvale Hospital where she met her future husband Mziyakise Ngcobo.They were blessed with two children, namely Muntomuhle and Thobekile.
