Enos Mafokate has a love of horses so deep that he founded the Soweto Equestrian Centre to teach the children of Soweto how to care for and ride horses.
Enos Mafokate spent his early years in life working on a farm in the country side. He worked as a groom for the horses and that is where he found his love for the animal. While working on the farm he was offered the chance to learn how to ride.
In 1975 he enrolled at the Marist Brothers College to perfect his showjumping skills. In 1992 he attended the Olympics as a sports ambassador for South African show jumping. Enos was South Africa’s first black international riding champion and used that influence to start the Soweto Equestrian Foundation.
“2007 Mafokate founded the Soweto Equestrian Foundation (SEF), a non-profit riding school. It has the aim to improve the welfare of cart horses in Soweto, to open the elite world of riding to people, who would otherwise never get the chance to ride on a horse, and to get disabled children on horses”
The Soweto Equestrian Foundation has introduced over 700 children to horses and horse riding, they did so through inviting children from care homes and orphanages to ‘Pat a pony’ days and also by offering riding lessons twice a week.
“I have a dream that one day a student from the Soweto Equestrian Centre will compete for South Africa in the Olympic games.” – Enos Mafokate
2010 was a successful year for the school, the Soweto team became the first Mixed Team National Champions in 2009 and again in 2010. The school also sent a child from the SEF, with the National team to represent South Africa at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in the USA.
Recently the SEF started hosting weekend markets. The markets promote local entrepreneurs and are also a way for the Soweto Equestrian Foundation students to showcase their skills.
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