Cape Town's Amanda-Lea Jones Champions Three Causes at Once

Amanda-Lea Jones proves that one person really can make a difference in multiple lives at once. The Somerset West resident has become known by locals as the "PATCH lady," the "dead dog lady," and "the woman who helps abandoned babies" through her work with three separate nonprofit organizations.

Jones credits her calling to a childhood shaped by compassion. Her mother, a nurse and community activist, took young Amanda-Lea to nursing homes, Greenpeace events, and Buddhist retreats, exposing her to real-world challenges and teaching her to embrace people from all walks of life.

The turning point came in 2009, shortly after her first daughter was born. While helping her mother collect deceased animals from municipal roads, Jones began volunteering at PATCH Helderberg, an organization supporting children who experienced sexual abuse. Within a year, she joined as a full-time fundraiser.

Her network of service kept expanding. Jones connected with Sandy Immelman, founder of the Helderberg Baby Saver, and community activist Sophia Warner. Together with the late Phumzile Williams, they established Khethani Women's Wellness in 2022 to support women and girls facing crisis pregnancies.

The organization has grown its reach steadily. In 2025, Khethani officially took over operations of the Helderberg Baby Saver and now partners with the Halli Trust, the Family Shelter, local schools, and PATCH to create a comprehensive support system.

The Ripple Effect

Jones's impact extends far beyond the individual lives she touches directly. By connecting multiple organizations and causes, she has created a safety net for the Helderberg's most vulnerable residents. Her work demonstrates how one person's commitment can unite entire communities around shared values of care and protection.

She challenges every household in the area to identify three pressing local issues and support organizations addressing them. Her message is simple: real change happens when ordinary people step up.

Jones continues running her family business while managing her nonprofit work, proving that service doesn't require sacrificing everything else. Her story shows that making a difference is about showing up consistently for the causes that matter most.