By More Matshediso
Pretoria - As South Africa mourns the death of Public Service and Administration Minister Collins Chabane, his charity foundation says it will do all it can to keep his legacy alive.
The Minister, who passed away in a car crash on Sunday, was almost as well known for his involvement in music and golf as his illustrious political career.
In 2009, he established the Xakani Charity Trust Fund, a foundation that raises funds through an annual golf day for the benefit of charity organisations in South Africa.
The Chief Executive Officer of Xakani Charity Trust Fund, Tanya Coetzer, spoke to SAnews about the late Minister’s initiative.
Coetzer said it all started with the Minister inviting friends and the business fraternity over for a golf game and he has never looked back since then. She said the Minister envisaged the event to be annual, and it was named Collins Chabane Golf Day.
“All funds raised on this golf day go towards the foundation. We then identify various charity organisations and support them with the funds. About 10 organisations have benefitted from the initiative in the past,” said Coetzer.
She said every time the Minister was on the golf course was a highlight for him because golf was one of the activities close to his heart.
This year, the Collins Chabane Golf Day is scheduled to occur on 18 April and will take place without its namesake for the first time. Coetzer said preparations for this year’s golf day started as early as January.
“We know that it wouldn’t be his wish to have this golf day planned around him but [rather] around raising funds to assist non-profit and charity organisations. This golf day will not end by our friend and Minister being gone. It will continue,” she said.
However, Coetzer said a memorial golf day for Minister Chabane will be organised and details will be communicated.
She said the foundation has grown over the years and it has seen international businesses participating and contributing towards it.
“I have been in contact with so many of them and they were all insisting that they would love to go on and keep contact with the foundation for the benefit of charity organisations,” she said.
She said the Xakani foundation has trustees that it meets with on a monthly basis to evaluate and decide which organisations need assistance.
She called for participation from anyone interested in being part of this year’s event, which will take place on 18 April.
Details of registration processes can be found on www.collinschabanegolfday.co.za and interested parties can contact Coetzer on 082 560 8697 for enquiries.
*Click here to view our online tribute to Minister Chabane. – SAnews.gov.za
