Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - December 2, 2002
Ronnie Govender
In 1994, Reynolds used her life savings to set up God's Golden Acre in Cato Ridge in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Today she cares for 45 orphans in the centre and another 729 in the sprawling township.
Next year, 27 of her charges, known as the Young Zulu Warriors, will sing and dance their way across Britain to raise funds to extend the orphanage. Their air fares have been sponsored by the Rotary Club and negotiations are under way for singer Elton John to accompany them at their UK premiere.
Reynolds, a mother of two, gave up a successful artist's studio to set up the 12ha orphanage, which now receives funding from five international organisations. Her passion for caring goes back to the 1980s when she took in refugees during the height of political turmoil in the province.
"It was my calling," she says, adding: "God has delivered them to my hands. More than two million children in South Africa will be abandoned or orphaned because of Aids-related diseases in the next 10 years.
"We, as Christians, Muslims, Jews and Hindus, have failed if we cannot look after these children."
Reynolds and her team also supply indigent families in the valley with food, medicine and candles. The children receive clothing and school fees.
Reynolds is hoping to open SA's first hospice for babies with Aids. "Because of the high numbers, we're not able to care for the HIV babies here," she said.
"We have a building for our hospice, but we don't have the money to equip it right now," she explained. "Every time we come here, there are more and more graves. Aids is slowly wiping out this community."
Nevertheless, and despite being hijacked twice in the township, Reynolds is undaunted. "If God wants me, he wants me. But until then, there's work to be done."
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