Tired of seeing people around him suffer, Roemello Shembe knew that he wanted to be the force that helped changed their lives.
Now 22 years old he shares the efforts he has made to make this happen:
When I was an 11-year-old boy I knew I could not sit back and watch the suffering of the people I loved. I knew I needed to be a change leader. So, I joined Northcliff-based, Growing Champions Youth Programme where I learned to turn my pain into power.
Over the years I started to learn how to unlock my God-given purpose in the world through classes run by Sam Toweel -Moore, an occupational therapist with a heart full of compassion and courage. She always encouraged me to move forward with my vision and I rose to the challenge.
As I have a good eye for design and fashion, I combined my burning passion to see violence, crime and corruption end, with a fashion identity. In 2020 I founded my AntiGang fashion brand. It is a brand for people with vision, people of action, and people with class. As the AntiGang nation, we say no to gender-based violence, crime and abuse. We are fearless and determined to change our future.
I started a pop-up store in Eldorado Park, which was a clothing rail located in the local park, so I could raise the money needed for the material to make the clothes. I would spend every free moment I had cleaning takkies for locals with my soap and a small brush. Many laughed in my face while some physically beat me in disgust. They saw my determination as an insult to the drug lords’ work in the neighbourhood. But I love my neighbours, I just didn’t love what they do.
Every day when I wanted to give up, I would just take a walk and see the pain in the eyes of the children around me. It was too much to turn a blind eye and not fight to build a brand that brings hope, life and a life free from destruction.
I want to build a successful business that will allow me to employ those suffering. Help them put food on their table and clothes on their backs without resorting to criminality.
Just when it felt too much to bear, after I watched a friend, who was 24 years old at the time take his own life, I was offered the opportunity to sell my clothes in a pop-up store in the upmarket, Cresta Shopping Centre. It changed my life and my hope.
In March of this year, I was given the opportunity by designer, Nadine Marx, to take part in a top fashion show as a guest at New Romantics Bridal and Couture Clothing at the Indaba Hotel. What a moment! My models were fellow Growing Champions Tshepang Mokoena and Wandile Billings, as well as my beautiful girlfriend, Pearl Redgard, alongside myself.
To hear the crowds and media sit up and cheer as we displayed the brand had me close to tears. It breathed hope back into my life and the motivation to fight for a future for our nation. A healthy future.
At this special event, I got to listen to the wise words of champion women, Miss South Africa 2010, Bokang Montjane -Tshabalala and Mrs South Africa and Mrs World 2016, Candice Abrahams who were truly uplifting.
It made me think back to 2013 when I ran the Township Marathon with my Growing Champions family to raise funds for Reach for a Dream Foundation for two young men fighting for their lives, to meet Bokang’s husband, Siphwe Tshabalala. Good people they are.
I urge the youth to not settle for destruction and depression – join the visionaries. Wear AntiGang with pride and become the change as we work together to build a crime and violence-free nation. We must never stop believing, if I can do it so can you.
Let’s lift our nation.
Related Article:
Thrifting for new clothes has never been so satisfying, nor for such a good cause
