The floods have caused widespread destruction, with overflowing rivers, collapsed bridges and damaged infrastructure leaving large areas without water, electricity or access to essential supplies. Both provinces were declared disaster areas by the South African government, with damage estimates in the billions, says the station.

According to disaster relief organisation Gift of the Givers, the immediate needs on the ground included bottled water, non-perishable food, baby formula and nappies, toiletries and basic essentials, adds the station.

Seeing the need for assistance, Jacaranda FM's Good Morning Angels initiative launched 'Project Flood Relief', an urgent on-air and digital campaign calling on listeners, corporates and advertisers to help communities severely impacted by flooding across the two provinces, says the station.

The response was immediate and overwhelming with over R4-million in assistance collected over 5 days. This includes over R1-million in monetary donations, alongside more than 60 tonnes of bottled water, eight tonnes of canned goods, five tonnes of dried goods, four tonnes of baby supplies, four tonnes of toiletries and 10 tonnes of dog food. All items have been handed over to Gift of the Givers who have started sorting and distributing the donations to affected communities, adds the station.

"When we saw how badly hit the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces were by the recent floods, knowing how important these provinces are for us as a radio station and having hundreds of thousands of listeners there, we had to step in," says Martin Bester, host of Jacaranda FM’s Breakfast With Martin Bester. "We noticed that there weren't many people coming up with solutions to help, so we knew we needed to do something."

Bester adds that the Jacaranda FM community once again showed just how willing they are to step in during times of need.

"The response from our listeners was immediate and without question. The needs were basic, so many people could get involved, whether one bottle of water or litres and litres. Our listeners stepped in right away," says Bester.

On Breakfast With Martin Bester, a child donated the R20 he earned from the tooth fairy, and the call immediately after was a large corporate donating R200 000. Everybody could do something, which made this even more special. When it comes to Good Morning Angels and our Jacaranda FM listeners, their generosity knows no bounds."

Vuyani Dombo, Managing Director at Jacaranda FM, says the campaign reflects the station's commitment to making a difference in the communities it serves, forming a core part of the station's identity as "South Africa's No.1 Feel Good Station". 

"Limpopo and Mpumalanga form a vital part of our broadcast footprint, and when our listeners are hurting, we feel a responsibility to act," says Dombo. "'Project Flood Relief' showed what's possible when a community comes together with purpose. Raising over R4-million in assistance in such a short space of time is an incredible achievement, and it will make a real difference to families who have lost everything."

"Good Morning Angels exists for moments like this, to turn compassion into action and help change lives. We're deeply grateful to everyone who donated and to Gift of the Givers for ensuring aid reaches those who need it most. Together, we've made a real difference," adds Dombo.

Through initiatives like Good Morning Angels, which celebrates 20 years in 2025, Jacaranda FM aims to continue to play a meaningful role beyond entertainment, using its platform to mobilise compassion, action and hope during times of crisis, says the station.

Jacaranda FM thanks every listener, advertiser and partner who contributed to 'Project Flood Relief' and helped restore dignity and essential support to communities affected by the floods, concludes the station.

For more information, visit www.jacarandafm.com. You can also follow Jacaranda FM on Facebook, X, Instagram, or on TikTok.

*Image courtesy of contributor