Cape Town-based NGO donates 200 pairs of school shoes in Katlehong

Katlehong learners were spoiled with brand new school shoe donations during TFF Harambee Sports Fun Day and the school shoe initiative, held at Skosana Netball Court, Katlehong, on June 4.

Cape Town-based NGO called Kasi Angles (KA) partnered with The Flo Foundation (TFF) to hand over at least 200 pairs of much-needed school shoes to learners.

Gerald ‘Papa G’ Nomlala, founder and CEO of KA told Kathorus MAIL, that the foundation has a few programs.
However, their focus today was the school challenges programme (SCP), which is providing school shoes to children who cannot afford them.

He shared that he travelled around the country spotting children who could not afford school shoes.KA managed to reach the 40 000 mark of shoes donated all over the country, on June 3.

Nomlala said their target is to donate 1 million shoes in 2025.

“It is my first time in Katlehong I am happy to honour an invite by TFF,” said Nomlala.

“I am pledging another 200 pairs later this year. I want to partner with TFF and other foundations that are keen to partner with us to help a girl and boy child to be able to go to school.”

KA’s CEO mentioned that South Africa has about seven million children who go to school without school shoes.
The little that KA is doing makes a huge difference for children to go to school, he added. Nomlala said there was no inspiration for this charity work as he was a victim of not having school shoes himself.

“I spent three years of my life attending school without shoes, so I know what it is like to go to school without them.

“As I grew up I revisited my upbringing and decided to make a difference by helping children without shoes.”

He said he missed a lot in that three years, as he noted that he spent two years without attending school. He explained that he did not have any other excuse except to say that he did not have shoes.

“By the time my grandmother bought me a pair of shoes, she told me that they are for church but they were school shoes, so technically I did not have shoes. I do not want kids to take the route that was given to me, I just want them to receive shoes from a stranger. Nomlala thanked his sponsors including Bidvest, Motus, Nedbank, Eish 2.0, Cape Times, IOL and Europe Cars among others.

A beneficiary from TFF, Boitumelo Molapo (17), who joined TFF in 2018 said being one of the young stars who struggled without shoes, the SSI is an exciting initiative for most of them.“I am very happy because most children did not have shoes will be able to go to school with shoes,” said Molapo.

Another member of TFF Lwandle Qakoza said she did not receive shoes as she still has school shoes, however, she is happy for others who received them.

A parent, Pulani Radebe who accompanied her child Rethabile Radebe (11), told Kathorus MAIL that her child did not have shoes and at the time KA visited she was still trying to put together the money to buy new shoes.

“I am grateful for the two organisations they have helped our children, even those who did not have anything, we are thankful,” said Radebe.

The founder of TFF Thabo ‘Flo’ Mokale said he has known Nomlala for a long time but now that he started his foundation and it has been five years, he added.

He said this is their flagship project as they have been trying to get together for a long time.

Kasi Angel’s brief background

Kasi Angels are based in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. It performs charity work independently and was formed under the umbrella of the June 16 events firm.

The foundation has seven key programmes, which include Kasi Challenges, Enviro16, Gym16 Sports, Boys to Gentle-Man Drive, BeKnown-Yaziwa, Kasi Arts and Culture and Senzeni.