Cape Town - It was an emotional day for the cycling team of Bergsig Primary School, who were the recipients of the 4 000th pair of school shoes, hand-delivered by social community movement Hakuna Matata, in Bonteheuwel at the weekend.
Hakuna Matata was established by school teacher Irafaan Abrahams and a group of like-minded people who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of others, especially underprivileged school learners.
On April 27, the group handed over its first of 4000 pairs of school shoes at Carl Schreve Primary School, near Citrusdal. The months that followed saw the group of givers travelling to 13 other schools on the Cape Flats, and as far as St Helena Bay.
They also handed out 500 pairs of school shoes to a village in Malawi.
On Friday, they visited Bergsig Primary, where the 4 000th pair of school shoes was fitted on one of their cyclists’ feet.
Abrahams said they chose the school to honour the spirit of Calib de Kock, 17, a cyclist who tragically lost his life in a collision with a car door in Sea Point in June.
The Grade 11 Bonteheuwel High learner, who was part of the Phoenix Cycling Club, started cycling at Bergsig Primary.
“Calib was an integral part of the Bergsig Primary School cycling team. He would fix their bicycles and was actively involved in training.
“He meant a lot to the team, so we found it fit to use his example of dedication and pure love for education and cycling to inspire them.”
Abrahams said what made everything even more touching was the learners’ reactions when receiving the shoes. “(Many) didn’t even have school shoes, so you could see it meant a lot to them. They were also gifted with beanies for those cold morning rides and blankets and refreshments.”
Abrahams said the biggest fundraiser was the Cape Town Marathon last year where 30 Ommiedraai Athletic Club runners dedicated their run to raise funds for the project, as well as the 14 cyclists of the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
Cape Argus