Mother and daughter duo embrace iconic motto

In just about a week, the #BokkeBlanket will be revealed at Steyn City School, where the challenge of Carolyn Steyn 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day will take shape through new and long-term committed KnitWits.

Southerners Somaya Abdool Wabh and her daughter, Juwairyyah, kept their fingers moving as they crocheted away the long socially distanced hours for this cause. Somaya, Juwairyyah and Yasmin Patel made 17 blankets in total.

On June 9 the world’s largest Springbok blanket will be revealed at Steyn City School. The ‘blanket’ will cover the entire rugby field with the image of our iconic ‘Bok’ and South African flag – so large, it will only be visible from the sky earth’s atmosphere and via satellite. Rassie Erasmus, John Smit and the Tendai Mtawarira will be there to show their colours in the #BokkeBlanket Reveal.

The duo of mother and daughter received a call from 67 Blankets in October to knit/crochet a mammoth 17 blankets in yellow charity wool, each blanket of the size of 160x160cm, for the charity drive. They handed over their 17 blankets to the 67 Blankets drive on March 24.

“We are doing this for the pleasure of God, as we look at it, to help somebody in need in the country and to share our skills with others. It is such a small contribution, but for a big cause,” said Somaya.

“We started about six years ago when the two of us went for a knitting course, and we never stopped. We got involved in many knitting projects by the Blanket Drive such as the longest scarf drive and re-written the Guinness World Record for the longest scarf drive.”

Both were also part and parcel of the Madiba Portrait and went to a prison in Pretoria to teach inmates knitting skills.

“Before the pandemic, my daughter and I got a few girls in our estate together and knitted over 200 scarves with them. This was for the largest scarf in the world.”
According to 17-year-old matriculant Juwairyyah, they taught the girls how to knit.

“It teaches them some skills. It is also a way to keep them busy and is very good for any child who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as it helps with hand/eye coordination.”

These wool-warriors of the South have tackled skeins of wool, made hundreds of blankets and scarves and hooked multiple stitches to ensure they knit and crochet for others who don’t have enough daily.

They will also be part of the newly found green and gold achievement and will not only celebrate the Boks’ historic 2019 Rugby World Cup win, but also ensure some warmth and hope for many vulnerable people in South Africa this winter.