Culture Craze
Black Coffee steps in to rebuild homes for flood-hit families in Mthatha
When the floods tore through parts of the Eastern Cape last June, Mthatha was left counting its losses. Lives were lost, infrastructure collapsed, and dozens of families were suddenly without a place to call home. Months later, long after the headlines faded, some of those families are still sleeping in a temporary shelter.
That lingering reality is what the Black Coffee Foundation has now stepped into.
A return to a place that shaped him
Internationally, Black Coffee is known for sold-out shows and global awards. Locally, he remains deeply tied to places that shaped his early life. Although born in Umlazi, he spent part of his childhood in Mthatha, a connection that continues to guide where he shows up when help is needed.
Through the foundation, permanent homes are now being built for families displaced by the floods. According to foundation CEO Lungie Maphumulo, construction on the first phase has already begun in Mthatha, one of the hardest-hit areas.
The aim is simple but powerful. Move people out of halls and temporary spaces and back into homes that offer stability, privacy, and dignity.
From emergency aid to long-term rebuilding
In the immediate aftermath of the floods, the foundation provided food parcels and emergency support. That early intervention mattered, especially for families who lost everything overnight. But nearly eight months later, the needs have shifted.
Some flood victims are still staying at Northcrest Church Hall, waiting for permanent housing solutions. The current building project is designed to answer that gap, moving beyond short-term relief and into long-term recovery.
As Maphumulo has explained, the focus is now on restoring dignity and investing in futures. It is a deliberate shift that recognises that disasters do not end when the water recedes.
This is absolutely awesome 🙌🏾
Kagi (@KagiSpeaks) February 5, 2026
Public reaction and calls for support
News of the housing project quickly spread on social media, with many South Africans praising the DJ for consistently supporting the Eastern Cape. Comments describing the initiative as inspiring and necessary reflected a wider sense that this kind of follow-through is rare.
The foundation has also made it clear that this work can grow. Corporate partners and members of the public have been invited to contribute, with additional funding allowing more homes to be built and support extended to other affected areas in the province. Similar initiatives are planned across the Eastern Cape over the year.
Nah, this is amazing from Grootman.🤞🏾✅️
CK_AllTheWay (@325C_K) February 4, 2026
Building more than houses
The housing project sits alongside a broader vision that goes beyond disaster response. The Black Coffee Foundation is also working on long-term empowerment initiatives, including the planned Black Coffee Music Academy.
Introduced at a fundraising gala dinner in 2025, the academy is intended to nurture young musical talent. Funds raised are being directed towards early development, from infrastructure planning to curriculum design. It is part of a wider commitment to creative education and sustainable opportunities for emerging artists.
When Black Coffee spoke after being named Billboard Africa’s Power Player of the Year, his message echoed the same values behind the Mthatha rebuild. He urged parents and communities to support children in their dreams, even when those dreams feel uncertain or unlikely.
In Mthatha, that philosophy is taking physical form. Brick by brick, the focus is not just on rebuilding homes, but on giving families a foundation strong enough to imagine a future again.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Scrolla.Africa
