Jeepers reach out to local gogo
A gogo from Phalaborwa was bestowed with gifts when 15 Jeep Wranglers, owned by ‘Jeep Inmates’, visited the town recently.
The Jeepers came from all corners of South Africa to assist Kokwana Mathonsi, fondly known to them as Gogo.
Gogo resides in a poverty stricken area named Humulani located between Namakgale and Lulekani townships in Phalaborwa.
Jeep Inmates is a collaboration of entrepreneurs and professionals focused on eliminating poverty.
The group was founded March this year after the inception of the national lockdown, hence the adoption of the name ‘Inmates’.
Gogo’s plight, was discovered by Tiyani Khoza of Makasela-Air and Tshembo Dlazi of Dlazi Trading, after her granddaughters arrived at a local bakery asking for bread.
Khoza and Dlazi accompanied the children to their house and found the family living under dire circumstances.
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Mashupje Kutumela, Jeep Inmate member, referred the issue to the Jeepers.
Instantaneously, the Jeepers committed to join Khoza on his initiative to build Gogo a house.
The house was built and completed during lockdown and Gogo and her granddaughters moved into their new home.
With the relaxation of the inter-provincial travel ban, the Jeepers were finally able to travel to see the completed house and meet Gogo and her granddaughters.
They also undertook to buy her furniture.
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In Phalaborwa, the Jeepers joined the local Jeep Inmates, Mashupje Kutumela, Masocha Vhukeya, Ben Mokoena, Andrew Lumbe and Motlatjo Mongaloto and handed Gogo a double bed, two blankets, children’s clothing and shoes, a stove and cooking pot set, fridge, non-perishable food and a R1000 electricity voucher.
Gogo expressed overwhelming gratitude. She also urged the Jeepers to extend the same assistance to other people in need.
