CBC Boksburg and Hot Cares joined forces to surprise Phindile Mthembu with a full scholarship for her son Thoriso.
Boksburg, South Africa (18 July 2024) – In March 2024, Christian Brothers’ College Boksburg (CBC) hosted its Scholarship Information Evening to the candidates who applied for a scholarship for their high school career.
Annually, the College awards scholarships to deserving candidates who have shown their excellence in academics, sports, leadership and cultural activities. After writing the scholarship exam and sitting through panel interviews, the candidates are informed by CBC about their scholarship.
Phindile Mthembu runs Tholakele Centre of Hope, an NGO in Kwa-Thema, Brakpan that homes 43 orphaned and vulnerable children. Since 2008, Phindile has provided essential care, shelter, and protection to orphaned children in Ekurhuleni East, a community deeply affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty, and substance abuse.
A friend recommended that Phindile’s son apply for the scholarship as he is the top student in his grade and is the Deputy Head Boy at his current school. However, due to the severe funding delays from the Department of Social Development (DSD), impacting their ability to care for the children, Tholakele Centre of Hope, it has also affected the Mthembu family, including their son Thoriso’s educational prospects.
Thoriso Mthembu made it through the scholarship process at CBC Boksburg, but the family could no longer afford to send their son to the College despite being awarded the 50% scholarship.
With the financial constraints, Phindile did send an email explaining their predicament to CBC Boksburg and that the Department of Social Development (DSD) only provided funding for 10 children and not for the 43 children in their care. This dire situation has left the Mthembu family in a difficult financial predicament on how to care for, educate and feed all the children. Phindile did not have the heart to tell her son Thoriso that he would not be attending his dream school for high school.
At the time, Andy Swanepoel, the Hot Cares Project Coordinator and Nikita Teixeira, Head of Marketing at CBC Boksburg were in talks about screening candidates for the 100% scholarship worth R600,000 which Mr Toby Craig, Headmaster of CBC Boksburg had pledged at the Hot Cares 2023 Teddython.
Upon receiving the news from the Mthembu family about the financial situation, it was decided that Thoriso would be awarded the pledged scholarship. Hot Cares and CBC Boksburg stepped in to help an incredible family by alleviating their financial strain ensuring that Thoriso can pursue his dream of attending CBC Boksburg.
The drive show Just Plain Drive hosted by Darren Scott, Dyl and Tara, and CBC Boksburg surprised Phindile on air with the news that her son Thoriso’s education would be covered with a full scholarship in addition to his school uniform and stationery needs to the value of R5,000 would be covered by Hot Cares.
This support not only secures Thoriso’s future educational opportunities but also lifts a significant burden from Phindile, allowing her to focus on continuing to care for the children at Tholakele Centre of Hope without the added stress of her son’s schooling uncertainty.