Mammetja Mogotlane (27), works towards building a sustainable eco-community, playing chess with capitalism.
Born in Johannesburg, Gauteng, they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue their master’s degree at The School of Oriental and African Studies University of London (SOAS) and urgently need help to fund their studies.
Mammetja has already graduated with a Masters of Sciences (MSc) in Politics of Conflict Rights and Justice. Earning an advantage through SOAS university is a teachable opportunity. They are empowered and motivated to work towards life-enabling systems fostering room for African queer people to be change-makers in their communities.
By attending the prestigious SOAS campus, Mammetja hopes to build on their understanding of transformative justice whilst centring their experiences with African women, queer people, and neuro-divergent people. They are honouring their love-informed, childhood dreams.
“Growing in communication means, learning to speak the many languages of your loves. The fluidity of Indigenous practices reminds us to engage the senses available to us, to listen. The Earth is crying, and climatic shocks devastate people in their indigenous homes, especially those un-housed.” – says Mammetja.
“Purposefully ignored communities need systems rooted in radical love, promoting indigenous knowledge production and a reality where African queer kinfolk can be fully self-determining and uninhibited by systemic violence. Community-informed lenses frame sustainable accessibility to health care.
This yearning is a future I espouse and have committed myself to strive towards Encouraged by my love partners, I quit my survival-required job, and leaned into community care, did the background work, had several (re)drafts, and radically sent in my application – to thrive” – says Mammetja.
To cover their tuition fees estimated to cost R465 000, Mammetja has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy that has raised R17 000 through 12 kind contributions.
“Being a historian creates space for intersectional forms of healing, and communally centered holistic health care. Love offers the capacity to pursue my goals” – says Mammetja.
Let’s help support Mammetja Mogotlane in pursuing this well-deserved opportunity.
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R330 Million.
Nickey Seger (48), a fitness specialist and wellbeing coach from Strubensvalley, Johannesburg, is honouring a decade-long promise she made to a student close to her heart.
In 2005, while working at Scuba City in Ferndale, Nickey met Goodwill Khuzwayo (41), a charming man who through a near-fatal taxi accident became disabled 4 years earlier.
“Goodwill was travelling to Zimbabwe to visit family when the taxi’s tyres burst. The taxi rolled and Goodwill fell out the vehicle, and was caught under the taxi. He had suffered head and spinal injuries,” Nickey told News24
9 years ago: Goodwill, with his wife, Edna and little Nellie.
Inspired by his resilience, Nickey wrote to Radio 94.7, hoping that her colleague would be chosen during their annual 947 Xmas Wish. After 3 years of reaching out to the radio station, Nickey’s persistence finally paid off!
The radio station kindly agreed to grant Goodwill’s wish, sending his bright and bubbly daughter, Nellie, who was in grade 2 at the time, to MacLaren College, an upstanding private school in Cosmo City.
While Nellie thrived in her new environment and loved her new school, unfortunately, Goodwill was unable to cover her school fees for the remainder of her education and had no choice but to send her back to the government school she had previously attended.
Making a promise
Concerned that Nellie wouldn’t get the quality education she deserved, Nickey stepped in to lend a helping hand, promising the young student that she would do her best to cover the cost of her schooling until she matriculated.
“It was important to me to help Nellie with her schooling because education is the key to unlocking the world. It helps us in all aspects of our lives. To me, education is the gateway to success. Success can be achieved when people have knowledge, skills, and attitude. All these things can be gained only with the help of education.” -says Nickey.
Keeping a promise
For the last 9 years, through personal challenges and the many ups and downs of her business, Nickey kept true to her promise.
Nellie is now 18-years old, and has grown into a soft, kind, focused, and determined young lady who aspires to become a nurse to serve her community.
“I want to become a nurse so I can fix my daddy, so that he can walk again. I want to be the one to nurse him back to good health. And I’m so eternally grateful to every donor that has contributed to my schooling,” Nellie told News24
Dressed for success: Nickey and Nellie share a special bond
Due to the unforeseen and devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected Nickey’s business, like so many others in South Africa, Nickey, for the first time is unable to cover Nellie’s school fees on her own – but she isn’t planning on giving up!
To raise the R75,600 ($5000) needed to cover Nellie’s final year of school, Nickey has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, and is pledging to complete 14 consecutive half marathons, a total distance of 295,4km, to get Nellie to the ‘finish line’ of her schooling career.
The challenge, which is Nickey’s labour of love, will begin on the 1st of February and end on Valentine’s Day, the 14th February 2022, symbolically, in front of Nellie’s school, Ruimsig Montessori.
Blown away by generous supporters
With overwhelming support from 116 local and international donors, over R135 000 ($8800) has been raised towards Nellie’s education in anticipation for Nickey’s challenge.
On Thursday, 27th of January 2022, Nickey shared an emotional message of thanks to everyone who has made this dream come true.
“I am reaching out to all South Africans to help Nellie finish her schooling while demonstrating to the country that “the power of a promise matters” no matter your circumstances, one can always rise above it and make a plan and maintain one’s integrity. With my challenge I hope to cover Nellie’s school fees and give a new spin of what love can look like during the month of love.” – says Nickey
When Nickey called Goodwill to tell him the news, he burst into tears
“I had no words. I just covered my eyes with my hands, and I burst out crying. I am so humbled. I still get emotional when I think about it. My child will be able to finish her matric year and go study to be a nurse next year. This is any parents’ dream, and I am overwhelmed with the many good, kind-hearted people living among us,”
“My daughter is still in shock, but it’s definitely a happy shock. As long as she’s been alive, she’s been telling us she wants to become a nurse, and now she’s one step closer to fulfilling her dream. We are so happy. We will forever be thankful to the many hands that donated,” Goodwill told News24
As this campaign is now fully funded, additional funds will be used to cover Nellie’s University fees.
WATCH: Nickey shares special moments from her “Power of a Promise” challenge
Update
Nellie finished writing her Cambridge Matric exams the beginning of June 2022 and is now awaiting her results which will hopefully be out during the 1st week in August 2022.
She also attended her Matric dance on Friday 24 June and she looked absolutely gorgeous. Her dress was sponsored by Alicia Van der Merwe from Ali Cia Couture and the Photoshoot sponsored by Louise Olivier from Wanitta’s Photography. It was certainly a beautiful highlight in Nellie’s Matric year.
Nellie has applied to Netcare as well to start her studies next year as a student nurse, we are just awaiting her results.
Empowering young women
As South Africa’s first female Navy Diver, 4 time Iron Man finisher, and someone who has represented South Africa in the long-distance World Triathlon Championship in Germany in 2010, Nickey hopes to teach young women a life lesson:
“Throughout my life, I have been exposed to and pushed back against gender norms and stereotypes. From a young age, I made it my mission, to prove that women can do anything they put their mind to, I hope that this will inspire others to do the same”
Create a crowdfunding campaign
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far raised over R290 Million.
Shireen Hermans, a 29-year-old mother from Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, has an eye disease called keratoconus, a condition which causes extremely blurred vision and light sensitivity.
Life is exceptionally challenging for Shireen, who has less than 8% sight in only one eye and is considered legally blind.
Behind her beautiful smile, gentle nature, courageous and resilient spirit, Shireen feels isolated and depressed due to her condition, which has interrupted her life and made simple tasks very difficult.
Shireen yearns for the simple pleasures in life – like seeing her daughters’ faces and helping them with their homework.
“For Shireen, sight loss means she can’t walk her young daughters to school or safely catch a bus with them. She simply can’t see the pavement or read the signs at the bus stop. It’s not safe for her to venture out alone. Living with keratoconus is like life in permanent lockdown.” – says Amanda Seccombe, Founder of The Eyes2Eyes Foundation.
Giving Shireen her sight back
At this stage, Shireen’s corneas (her eye’s outermost lens) are irregular, with steep troughs and cones.
As glasses and ordinary contact lenses will not restore Shireen’s sight, the only way for her to achieve functional vision and avoid total blindness is to receive costly custom-fit scleral lenses.
In November 2021, Shireen was referred to The Eyes2Eyes Foundation, an organisation dedicated to providing individuals the gift of sight, as corneal disease is vastly underfunded and under-resourced in public hospitals in South Africa.
Hoping to receive support from the public, the Eyes2Eyes Foundation, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, with a fundraising goal of R25 000, which will allow Shireen to receive specialised lenses that will be designed and manufactured for her in New Zealand.
Funds raised will also cover the cost of Shireen’s fitting process which will be done in Cape Town, her monthly optometrists appointments and training on how to use the life-saving lenses.
“Restoring my vision will mean I can recognize the faces of my family and friends – not just their voices. I will be able to read to my girls. I wouldn’t have to rely on my daughter to read me prices at the stores and guide me with things all the time. Having my sight restored means I can get back to work and help with our financial problems at home. I will get my confidence and independence back and stop living a blurred depressed life, where I have to pretend everything is good” – says Shireen
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R330 Million.
Jenny Tshuma (29) from Soweto, Johannesburg, who works as a Bolt driver has become a victim of a brazen drive-by shooting which occurred in Rosettenville, Joburg South on 30 April 2022.
Caught in the crossfire, the husband and father of 2 young children was shot in the back. The stray bullet, which exited through his stomach, has now rendered him paralysed.
Currently, Jenny is in the ICU at Baragwanath Hospital, recovering from serious injuries. While he is finally off the feeding tubes and is recovering well, he is still struggling to stand on his own, and doctors are unsure if he will walk again.
“Our lives have changed in such a short space of time. It is truly painful to think that Jenny might not be able to walk again and will have difficulty finding work to support our children, Kwazinkosi (7) and Samuel (3) who are so little”– says Jenny’s wife Victoria.
Upon hearing the news of the tragic incident, non-profit organization, The Angel Network, launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to support Jenny during this devastating time.
Jenny, who was head of his household and the sole breadwinner of his family, now has no means of earning an income to cover the cost of a carer, his mounting medical bills and the extensive physical and emotional therapy he will require.
Since the launch of the campaign, more than R8000 has been donated to Jenny and his family, who are reeling in the wake of this trauma, through many kind donations on the platform.
All donors who contribute to Jenny’s campaign are eligible for a Section 18A tax certificate issued by The Angel Network.
Bill Wedderburn (90), a philanthropist and COVID-19 survivor from South Coast, Durban, completed his 900km by 90 years charity drive on 29 April 2022 in support of families of healthcare workers affected by the pandemic.
Completing his final kilometre to the rousing sounds of Chariots of Fire, Bill was cheered on by fellow Renishaw Hills residents.
“We are so proud of Bill’s incredible achievement that has touched the lives of so many people, far and wide, since he started in June last year,” said Phil Barker of Renishaw Property Developments.
“He is the true embodiment of the community spirit and nature of giving that is found within Renishaw Hills. We are so proud. He is a real inspiration, not only to Renshaw Hills residents, but people of all ages regarding purpose, goals, dedication and compassion for those in need. I hope Bill becomes a shining example of the good that can be achieved by each and every one of us. We all have our part to play.”
Bill got the idea for this charity initiative during his time at Netcare Kingsway Private Hospital in January 2021 while recovering from a Covid-19 infection. Living with chronic kidney disease and being a prostate cancer survivor, Bill was considered high risk. However, the dedicated medical fraternity did everything they could to ensure his recovery during his two-week hospitalisation.
In fact, it was during his stay that Bill learned of the death of 36-year-old nurse, Hlengiwe Mbeje, an employee of Netcare Kingsway Hospital who’d died of Covid-19 shortly before he was admitted. Mbeje is one of many healthcare workers who have died as a result of contracting Covid-19 while caring for patients. This tragedy, coupled with the incredible support he’d received, prompted Bill to do something in return.
Working with a dedicated team that includes a practising surgeon, attorney, IT specialist and former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers, Bill has established the Covid Healthcare Workers’ Family Fund to raise funds for the relatives of those who’ve died fighting the virus.
COVID-19: Bill is committed to support families of healthcare workers (Image: Sandile Ndlovu)
For the fundraising initiative launched on BackaBuddy, Bill committed to walking 900km before his 90th birthday on 9 June 2022, clocking 100 kilometres for every decade of his life.
For every kilometre missed, Bill said he’d pay R10 into the fund – and he’s encouraging other like-minded sponsors to support this cause. In support, Renishaw Property Developments, the developers of Renishaw Hills, contributed R10 for every kilometre Bill walked.
Since the launch of the campaign, Bill has raised over R22 500 through kind contributions from 27 donors.
Speaking at the event, Bill reminded everyone about the reason behind this walk:
“The funds will go to the families of healthcare workers who passed away from Covid-19, as many of those families have been left destitute with their breadwinner gone. The walk also aided me in recovering from my illness, and I really encourage everyone to get out there and exercise! I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed, and to the Renishaw Hills community for your greetings and encouraging comments on my daily walks through the village. Those really kept me going. Although I’ve reached my goal six weeks early, I think I’ll continue going and try to reach 1 000km by my birthday!”
