67 Blankets celebrates the Bokke
STEYN CITY – Former president Thabo Mbeki said this was not only a good initiative to help the needy but a prayer to the future of the country.
The 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day initiative unveiled its hand-crocheted Bokke Blanket in honour of the national rugby team, the Springboks, for winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
High-profile public figures – including former president Thabo Mbeki; the leader of United Democratic Movement (UDM) Bantu Holomisa, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation Sello Hatang, and former Springbok captain John Smit – were among those who attended the event which was held in Steyn City School Sports Ground on 9 June this year.
The founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, Carolyn Steyn, thanked all the KnitWits ambassadors for their dedication in ensuring that a rugby-field-size blanket dream became a reality.
She said sports once again proved to all South Africans that working together can bring a desirable outcome and unite the masses.
“On 2 November 2019, before Covid-19, our national rugby team made history in Japan when Siya Kolisi became the first black Springbok captain to lift the Webb Ellis trophy when South Africa was crowned Rugby World Cup champions for the third time.”
She added that there was an unbelievable sense of pride and joy, showing that sports the power to truly unite our nation.
“In the past seven years, the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day initiative has seen more than 100 000 needy people across South Africa receiving hand-crochet blankets and scarves. All the blankets that our KnitWits ambassadors made with love will be distributed to communities in need across South Africa,” Steyn said.
Addressing dozens of attendees, former president Thabo Mbeki said this was not only a good initiative to help the needy but a prayer to the future of the country.
“This is a very important initiative because it is communicating a message to all of us that it is indeed possible to make South Africa a better place. That responsibility rests on all our hands together. We have no choice but to work together as a nation to correct many things that are wrong in our country,” concluded Mbeki.
