SHARPEVILLE – Businesswoman and philanthropist Mamaki Moeti, in collaboration with Lukastro, generously donated soccer apparel to two local schools in Sharpeville on Friday, June 9. This act of charity coincided with Mamaki’s 47th birthday, which occurred on June 4.

Instead of hosting an extravagant birthday celebration, the owner of Balaboza chose to give back to the community that had supported her business for many years.

Emmanuel Primary School and Lekoa Shandu Secondary School were the fortunate recipients of the donation. The duo provided 30 soccer boots, with fifteen pairs allocated to each school, and also presented Lekoa Shandu with a brand-new kit.

The donation was made possible through the collaboration of Lukasi Foundation and White Cross. Luka ‘Lukastro’ Dlamini from Lukasi Foundation explained the motive behind the donations, stating: “We recognised the needs of the students in various schools, and for a change, we identified a greater need for sports apparel.

We organized a donation drive that coincided with Mamaki’s birthday, as her wish was to give back to the community that supported her business over the years.”

Taking into account an upcoming school soccer tournament, the decision was made to gift the two schools with soccer boots.

Lukastro further shared: “We approached White Cross, our generous sponsor who understands the needs of students. We chose these schools because of their proximity to our base, and we witness their needs on a daily basis.” He expressed immense joy, stating, “We are thrilled to have made this day possible. It feels amazing to give back, and the smiles on these children’s faces make us even happier.”

Mamaki Moeti explained her motivation for giving back. “Balaboza has been operating in many communities for numerous years. The people of Sharpeville and other townships where Balaboza is situated have supported us throughout our journey in business. Giving back to them is the least I can do,” she expressed. Michael Ma fabatho, an educator at Emmanuel Primary School, warmly welcomed the donation, stating: “We are extremely delighted to have received this generous donation from Balaboza and Lukastro. Words cannot truly express how we feel. It makes us proud that our school has been selected to receive this donation.” He added: “This donation will foster greater interest among the children to participate in sports, as they can see that their talent is being taken seriously.”

Principal Mncedisi Ngalo of Lekoa Shandu Secondary School also expressed his excitement.