Celebrities tee off to raise funds for Zimbali Estate Foundation
From providing essential resources such as vegetable gardens, food parcels, to donating mobile libraries, the ZEF has made a tangible difference in educational environments.
The Zimbali Estate Foundation golf day saw more Sharks than eagles last week, but only because of the sporting legends on show.
Hosted at Zimbali Country Club on Thursday, the event served as a fundraiser for the Foundation (ZEF) which supports a number of worthy causes on the North Coast.
A full field teed off in a shotgun start format, with many teams opting to have the final part of their fourball filled with a local sporting hero.
From former Bafana Bafana stars to current rugby powerhouses, Zimbali’s lush fairways were surely replete with more sporting talent than a typical Thursday afternoon.
It was the team of Michael Sigasa, Thabo Zuma, Adhir Maharaj and Ntokozo Mthembu who proved the best on the day, however.
But despite the silky swings on show, all involved remained focused on the primary goal of supporting the ZEF.
“There had always been a charity golf day in Zimbali, but we formalised it during the creation of the ZEF as a non-profit company in 2021,” said foundation chairman, John Allan.
“We built the foundation on four pillars: education, sport, sustainability and crisis response. The golf day works as an ideal fundraiser given our aims.”
In the three full years of operation, the ZEF has initiated a wide-ranging series of projects between Tongaat and KwaDukuza.
Schools have so far been the focus and everything from vegetable gardens, to food parcels and mobile libraries have been donated.
When schools closed over the December break last year and government feeding programmes paused, the ZEF stepped in to provide almost a tonne of crucial food aid.
An entire mobile classroom is also soon to be built for Hulett’s Combined School in Doringkop at a cost of R235 000.
“The prevailing feeling I have had when visiting many of these schools is that they are doing their absolute best in impossible conditions,” said Allan.
“Some have 80 children to a class, three to a desk. And yet we see them achieving through concerted effort from dedicated staff members – they are the ones who deserve the credit.”
A golf academy at Zimbali has proved popular for children who show sporting aptitude in schools with which the ZEF has a relationship.
But it is not just schools that the ZEF has supported, with small scale farmers and environmental initiatives in Shaka’s Head also included.
To find out more, visit the Zimbali Estate Foundation Facebook page or zimbaliestatefoundation.org.
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