BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
ZIMBABWE-BORN former Springbok star Tendai Beast Mtawarira has teamed up with former South African side Cell C Sharks in an initiative dubbed Hands of Hope, which seeks to assist small businesses in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) that were affected by the disturbances in the country last month.
Mtawarira, who is the most capped prop in South African international rugby history, made more than 150 Super Rugby appearances for the Sharks between 2007 and 2019.
The former rugby star through his charity organisation, The Beast Foundation, announced the partnership with The Sharks on social media last week.
“The Beast Foundation has partnered with The Sharks to bring you the Hands of Hope initiative. Hands of Hope is aimed at assisting the KwaZulu Natal region of South Africa with food parcels, a soup kitchen and rebuilding small businesses and community facilities damaged during the unrest we experienced in July,” he announced.
“I urge you all to support the initiative by donating and nominating businesses that need to be rebuilt through this link,” making reference to a GoFundMe account.
The GoFundMe account is looking to raise US$10 000 towards the cause.
Mtawarira, who retired from international rugby after guiding the Springboks to a World Cup triumph in 2019, launched his own foundation in September last year together with his friend and business partner Kisset Chirengende.
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The aim of the foundation is to support and grow communities by uplifting the underprivileged youth in Africa as well as to inspire, unite and build communities by empowering young people through sport, education and life skills development.
The Beast Foundation released a statement on its website shedding more light on the Hands of Hope initiative.
“#HandsOfHope is a campaign aimed at rebuilding KZN by uplifting communities and peoples’ livelihoods. The campaign comes after the recent looting and unrest in KwaZulu Natal. Hands of Hope seeks to assist the communities that were affected by the unrest of July 2021.
“The #HandsOfHope campaign will take on a three-phased approach designed to achieve our aims to create hope and sustainability.
“The Beast Foundation believes that by working together, we will be able to restore dignity, hope and unify the people of KwaZulu Natal and South Africa,” read the statement.
The Sharks had raised R1,5 million towards the Hands of Hope cause on Friday through other fundraising initiatives.
A deadly spree of violence and looting engulfed the South African provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal a little over two weeks ago where thousands of businesses were gutted and at least 330 people were killed.
The reopening of shops that were looted is yet to begin.
