By Ndivhuwo Musetha
A charitable organisation founded by former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad has donated a pair of leather shoes to each pupil at Makanyu Primary School in Limpopo.
The Bobs for Good Foundation delivered the 283 pairs of shoes on Tuesday, after a story appeared in The Star.
The article detailed how ANC Youth League president Julius Malema had visited the school, in poverty-stricken Ha-Mphego village outside Thohoyandou, in January last year and promised in front of parents, teachers and pupils to donate 100 pairs of shoes.
He later phoned the school and said he would increase the number to 200 pairs.
But 19 months later, despite letters from the school governing body and management to ask about his promise, the shoes have not arrived.
When he read the story, Bobs for Good Foundation|co-founder and managing director Ron Rutland decided to step in.
The foundation, which specialises in giving shoes to needy schoolchildren across the country, was founded last year by lifelong friends Rutland and Skinstad, along with fellow Capetonians Matt Botha and Dave Ashman.
"The idea for the foundation came while Bob and I were in England some years ago," said Rutland.
"We wanted to come back and do something for the community.
"After long research, we decided to donate shoes because there are more than 7 million schoolkids in South African who have no shoes."
School principal Nthambeleni Ramanyimi and school governing body chairman Mmboniseni Netshivhumbe were overwhelmed by the foundation's generous gesture.
"I am so grateful that the promise of shoes has finally been fulfilled. I believe our kids will no longer hesitate to come to school during the winter because now they have shoes," said Ramanyimi.
Netshivhumbe had thought the children would never see the promise to them fulfilled.
He was delighted because "every child in this school now has new shoes, which is so much more than what we had expected".
Ntshengedzeni Mathada, 9, who is in Grade 2, could not stop touching his shoes.
"I cannot remember the last time I wore shoes," he said shyly.
Grade R teacher Sarah Sadiki said most of the children in her class did not have shoes. "I'm so happy for them because many of their parents would never be able to afford to buy new shoes."
The children, most of whom cannot speak English, were mostly quiet during the process of fitting and collecting the shoes, except for the odd bit of excited giggling.
But their beaming faces and their loudly chorused "Ro livhuwa!" (thank you) to their visitors said it all.
Said Rutland: "This was our first donation in Limpopo and it was an extremely moving and inspiring morning.
"I've not seen more extreme poverty - the staff do incredible work in the most trying conditions." - African Eye News Service
