The Erasmus Family is Bringing Hope, Sight, and New Beginnings to Komani

Photo Credit: Supplied by Jesica Slabbert (Full Stop Communications)

From restoring eyesight for schoolchildren to funding brighter futures across Komani, father-and-son duo Abrie and Wessel Erasmus are driven by a passion to give back to their community, one incredible project at a time.

Komani, South Africa (18 August 2026) – No child should have to dread or suffer through a lesson simply because they can’t see the board, yet sadly, so many do. Knowing the struggles of poor vision firsthand and inspired to make a difference, father-and-son duo Abrie and Wessel Erasmus rallied their community to bring a life-changing vision into focus.

The proud Komani retailers, who run SUPERSPAR Protea, recently invited customers to donate R5 toward the store’s See for Free initiative, a project aimed at supporting local children with uncorrected eyesight over two years.

The community’s response was incredible. The steady stream of donations enabled Abrie and Wessel to purchase hundreds of prescription glasses, fitted by a local eyewear business, and donate them to 1,000 learners. Thanks to this generosity, children who once struggled to read can now see clearly and look forward to a brighter future.

“All the schools were contacted, and word spread quickly,” Abrie said, explaining that each child received a pair on the house.

The formidable father and son combination did not stop there either. They paid for four children’s eye surgeries. A specialist offered a discounted rate while a local hospital also joined the party.

“That’s the philosophy of our projects. We like to bring everybody together. The more people involved, the better it is for the project and our community,” Abrie says.

Photo Credit: Supplied by Jesica Slabbert (Full Stop Communications)

Investing in the eyesight of the young ones is especially close to the family’s heart as his wife has battled with her vision for years – to the point that she flies to Johannesburg every month for specialised treatment.

Giving back to the community is at the heart of the Erasmus family’s story. A different project that has resonated deeply with Wessel is the recent upgrade of a school for autistic children. They pulled in a security company and a carpeting business to help enhance the learning environment. They also funded and installed TVs and laptops to aid teaching.

Wessel explains that Komani parents with autistic children often have to send them to other provinces to receive the type of education they need.

“Since we’ve done the revamp, they are actually bringing their kids back. Now they can see them daily instead of every two months.”

And that is not all. The Erasmuses have also funded the studies of two students at Mandela University in Gqeberha, one of whom recently qualified as a chartered accountant. The other is the son of a woman who has been selling tomatoes on the streets of Komani for years.

Wessel approached his dad with the proposal as the youngster was showing tremendous potential, and their good deed was duly rewarded when he passed his final year cum laude!

“We were all crying at his graduation,” Abrie adds.

“Our only criterion for funding young people is that they study something that will get them a job one day. They don’t have to pay back a cent.”

Another one of their ongoing projects is returning the historic Queenstown Golf Club to its former glory. They have staged golf days for the past two years to raise funds, roping in local businesses and even some of their suppliers to gift some impressive prizes.

Last year’s event was fully booked and, based on the enquiries, it looks like they are heading for another one. They also teamed up with Build it to purchase TVs for the club so that members can watch live sport while enjoying a drink together.

“This way the club can generate an income,” Abrie explains.

“Transferring money is easy,” he says. “Making a long-term difference, not so much.”

But whether it is restoring sight, upgrading schools, or funding futures, this father-and-son duo is committed to making real change happen – one community project at a time!