Billionaire mining magnate Patrice Motsepe stunned the Mdantsane community when he revealed his foundation would donate R1-million towards the welfare of former boxers.
Motsepe was at the NU12 Mdantsane Community Hall to hand over R110000 through the Motsepe Foundaion to help buy a prosthetic leg for the mother of boxing brothers Zolani and Makazole Tete.
The mother, Nomonde, lost her leg to diabetes and had been waiting for a Good Samaritan to help her raise the funds.
Boxing promoter Ayanda Matiti, who started the fundraising when he donated R33000 out of his own pocket, was delighted his action had sparked a major business leader like Motsepe to follow suit.
“This is why we took the initiative – in order to build footsteps for Good Samaritans like Mr Motsepe to do something,” Matiti said.
The ceremony attracted bigwigs such as Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle; newly appointed Buffalo City Metro mayor Alfred Mtsi; Eastern Cape sports, recreation, arts and culture MEC Pemmy Majodina; Motsepe Foundation head Sizwe Nzimande; as well music group Bignuz, who thrilled the packed hall with their songs.
Popular Umhlobo Wenene radio presenters Pucto Mafani and Amaza were programme directors of the ceremony, which took a boxing theme when Mafani introduced all current and former champions to loud applause.
With each boxer posing with a fighting stance after being called into the podium, Motsepe, accompanied by his wife Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, could not control his emotions as he clapped vigorously before taking the podium to make his surprise “special announcement”.
“I am not supposed to be in the programme as my wife has already spoken but the realisation that this region has a special boxing talent forced me to make this announcement,” he said.
He then called Masualle, Majodina and Mtsi to join him on the podium from which he announced he would give R1-million to towards empowering former boxers.
Nzimande poured cold water on reports that Matiti’s initial donation would be ignored, arguing that the R110000 was only for buying the prosthetic leg.
“Remember Mam’ Tete will have to attend physiotherapy to help her learn how to walk with the leg so every little cent is important,” he said.
A tearful Nomonde was too overwhelmed to express her feelings while Moloi-Motsepe said Zolani’s pleas for her mother to get the leg had sparked the foundation to do something.
“We were touched by Zolani’s pleas on television after his fight in England and to use that underlined a child who cares deeply about his parents,” she said.
Motsepe donates R1m for ex-boxers’ welfare
Motsepe was at the NU12 Mdantsane Community Hall to hand over R110000 through the Motsepe Foundaion to help buy a prosthetic leg for the mother of boxing brothers Zolani and Makazole Tete.
The mother, Nomonde, lost her leg to diabetes and had been waiting for a Good Samaritan to help her raise the funds.
Boxing promoter Ayanda Matiti, who started the fundraising when he donated R33000 out of his own pocket, was delighted his action had sparked a major business leader like Motsepe to follow suit.
“This is why we took the initiative – in order to build footsteps for Good Samaritans like Mr Motsepe to do something,” Matiti said.
The ceremony attracted bigwigs such as Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle; newly appointed Buffalo City Metro mayor Alfred Mtsi; Eastern Cape sports, recreation, arts and culture MEC Pemmy Majodina; Motsepe Foundation head Sizwe Nzimande; as well music group Bignuz, who thrilled the packed hall with their songs.
Popular Umhlobo Wenene radio presenters Pucto Mafani and Amaza were programme directors of the ceremony, which took a boxing theme when Mafani introduced all current and former champions to loud applause.
With each boxer posing with a fighting stance after being called into the podium, Motsepe, accompanied by his wife Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, could not control his emotions as he clapped vigorously before taking the podium to make his surprise “special announcement”.
“I am not supposed to be in the programme as my wife has already spoken but the realisation that this region has a special boxing talent forced me to make this announcement,” he said.
He then called Masualle, Majodina and Mtsi to join him on the podium from which he announced he would give R1-million to towards empowering former boxers.
Nzimande poured cold water on reports that Matiti’s initial donation would be ignored, arguing that the R110000 was only for buying the prosthetic leg.
“Remember Mam’ Tete will have to attend physiotherapy to help her learn how to walk with the leg so every little cent is important,” he said.
A tearful Nomonde was too overwhelmed to express her feelings while Moloi-Motsepe said Zolani’s pleas for her mother to get the leg had sparked the foundation to do something.
“We were touched by Zolani’s pleas on television after his fight in England and to use that underlined a child who cares deeply about his parents,” she said.
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