The Presidential Golf Challenge (PGC) 2020 took place on 14 February at the Atlantic Beach Golf Estate in Melkbosstrand, Cape Town. The event was hosted by the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) and aimed to raise funds for a charity designated by the sitting President while simultaneously facilitating an opportunity for networking between the private sector and Government. The Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation was the sole beneficiary of the event with the Adopt-a-School Foundation as its implementing agent of the sanitation projects in 2019 and 2020 at its selected schools.
The AASF provided a report to all dinner guests on the R5.3 million raised at the 2019 PGC. The funds raised at the 2019 PGC were allocated to the work of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation and the construction of four ablution facilities in Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. The four schools include two schools in the Eastern Cape, Mandleni Junior Secondary School and Ixopo Junior Secondary School, Mpucuko Primary School in KwaZulu-Natal and Madikoti Putsoa Primary School in Limpopo. The schools were identified in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, in line with the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) initiative. These projects began mid- 2019 and are near completion.
These projects were completed by the Adopt-a-Scho Foundation, and the Foundation’s community-based infrastructure model was applied, which lead to 115 temporary employment opportunities created through these projects. The implemented facilities include the configuration of 14 ablutions for learners, three ablutions for staff and a paraplegic facility at each school, in the form of either waterborne (flushing) and ventilated improved pit (VIP) facilities due to water challenges in some areas.
The PGC 2020, attracted over 130 golfers from both the public and private sector. Amongst the players joining the President was eight-year-old golf champion Simthandile Tshabalala popularly known as Sim Tiger joined the President’s four-ball. Sim Tiger started playing golf at the tender age of four, and began competing eight months ago and has thus far won more than 20 national and international trophies.
Learner MCs from adopted schools took care of the guests at the Gala Dinner. A total of R6,4 million was raised from the 2020 Presidential Golf Day. The funds received will continue to benefit schools towards ablution projects in line with the Sanitation Appropriate for Education Initiative (SAFE) initiative.
