Makhubele Foundation marks four years of community impact

The Dr Themba Oscar Makhubele Foundation hosted a powerful gathering in Tshiawelo on May 23, honouring the late community leader while continuing to uplift children through development programmes and support services.

The spirit and legacy of the late Dr Themba Oscar Makhubele continued to shine brightly during a powerful fourth anniversary event held in Tshiawelo on May 23.

Community members, children and foundation leaders gathered to honour a man remembered for his love, generosity and dedication to helping people.

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Dr Makhubele passed away on May 23, 2022, and following his death, the Dr Themba Oscar Makhubele Foundation was established in his honour. The foundation was created because of the impact he had on people’s lives and the care he showed towards the community.

Today, the foundation continues to have a positive influence in communities by offering educational services, food nutrition programmes, counselling services and development projects in needy communities.

The gathering served as a reminder not just of what has been achieved, but also of what has been learned and gained since then.

Prince Rivoningo Gift Mtolo, founder and executive director of the foundation and son of the late Makhubele, has become the face of the organisation’s mission.

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At only 18 years old, Gift has taken on the responsibility of carrying his father’s legacy in a way that many described as inspiring and beyond his years.

“I feel heartbroken since losing my father; however, I had the vision of starting a foundation which will help many,” he said.

Gift noted that his late father was a hardworking man. He stated that even though he had lost his father, the inspiration within him to establish the foundation continued to grow.

“My father was a hard-working person. After his death, my heart was in pain, but I had the idea of starting a foundation after him. Even though I didn’t fully get to know him, he was there in my life,” he said.

He explained that the foundation started operating in 2022 but was officially registered in July last year.

Gift added that the journey was not easy because there was little support in the beginning.

“It was a very challenging journey to start this foundation, especially because we didn’t have any support system,” he said.

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Gift further explained that many people tend to see him as an image of his deceased father because of their similarities.

“People say I resemble my dad so much. In fact, there are some people in Giyani who think the spirit of Dr Themba has returned when they see me,” he said.

Maria Sekgobela, the secretary of the foundation and master of ceremonies for the day, described the late Makhubele as a caring father and community member who always took responsibility for his children.

Sekgobela admitted that, like everyone else, Makhubele had his flaws, but she insisted that he never neglected his family.

“He was a good guy, though he had his mistakes, but he used to take care of all his children,” she said.

She further explained that she personally handled financial support arrangements for the children and knew the role he played in their lives.

“No parent can come back and claim that he was not taking care of his kids because that would be a lie,” she added.

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According to Sekgobela, all of Makhubele’s children attended well-known schools because education was important to him.

Sipho Moloi, chairman and CEO of the foundation, praised Gift’s leadership and dedication, saying he sees greatness in the young leader.

“I am so humbled because of the leader who is the youngest in the foundation, but looking at what he is doing, it is marvellous,” Moloi said.

He added that Gift’s mother and grandmother should be proud of the young man he is becoming.

“In Gift I see a leader who is not just regional or national, but an international one,” he said.

Dikeledi Zulu, chairlady and vice-chairperson of the foundation, emphasised that the organisation is focused on building children into responsible and successful individuals.

“We are not doing this for fun. The kids are here on Mondays and Thursdays because we are here to develop them,” she said.

Zulu explained that the programmes offered by the foundation help identify the talents and future careers of the children involved.

“The activities they take part in here are helping them develop well, and we are able to identify their talents and potential career paths while spending time with them,” she added.

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Children enrolled in the foundation performed impressive dance displays, showcasing various styles of movement and demonstrating their confidence. After the performances, they confidently took to the stage to showcase their modelling abilities.

Very young children were also part of the celebrations, dressed in crowns, heels and other elegant clothing as they joined the other children in the festivities.

It was an emotional event because of the memory of Dr Makhubele, who lived a commendable life that will be remembered by the community for years to come.

The event also served as an eye-opener, revealing how the Dr Themba Oscar Makhubele Foundation is growing into more than just a legacy project.