The holder of two local beauty pageant titles is struggling to raise R150 000 needed to cover the costs of travelling to Turkey to represent South Africa at the Miss Teen World Pageant at the beginning of May.
Legantse Mmotlana won both Miss Teen Star International South Africa and Miss Teen Gauteng titles.
“As a mother, it is painful to say to my child do not have money to pay for her trip to Turkey,” the talented 14-year-old model’s mother, Refiloe said on Saturday at a fundraising gala dinner at the Carousel Hotel, Hammanskraal.
“It makes me sad, because I am quite aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It will absolutely break my heart to see my little angel end up failing to go to Turkey and represent her country after she has worked extremely hard for it. Failure to help my child have her dream become a reality is something I will regret for the rest of my life.”
Although the fundraising gala dinner was a success, it has not generated enough money to help pay for the costs involved, Refiloe told Rekord.
Refiloe said that only a quarter of the total amount needed was raised from the gala dinner.
She said together with interested community members and friends, they resorted to organising the fundraising gala dinner after several attempts to get a sponsorship from the government and businesses proved to be fruitless.
In the meantime, the day for the minor to travel to Bodrum in Turkey is fast approaching. She is supposed to travel with her mother on May 1.
Lekgantse qualified to represent South Africa on an international stage when winning Miss Teen Star International South Africa in December last year.
That was not her only title as she had won Miss Teen Gauteng two months earlier.
Refiloe thanked God that “at least they raised a quarter of the money needed to cover the Lekgantse’s travel costs”.
Part of the team that organised the event was Pastor Tshepo Mdake who urged the entire team to never to give up and to have faith in God.
“I strongly believe in God and that he will help us in this situation,” she said.
The event saw popular gospel singer Sechaba, DJ Petse and musician Dubelesh sharing the stage.
Celebrity guests included veteran radio personality Lindiwe Modise, actor Thapelo Aphiri, comedian Kedibone Mlaudzi, photographer Neo Ntsoma and Latin American dancer Poppy Thlabane.
Refiloe thanked the Carousel Hotel for sponsoring the fundraising campaign to host the gala dinner.
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