"Because of Thabang": SA Matric Learner’s Viral Street Plea Sparks R100k Campaign for SA Students
- Thabang Kgasane, a 21-year-old Johannesburg matric learner, stood at traffic lights in Lenasia holding a handwritten sign asking for matric dance donations
- A video of Thabang went viral on social media, prompting South Africans to offer money, clothing and even a luxury vehicle for his big night
- The response inspired a BackaBuddy campaign called Because of Thabang, targeting R100,000 to help other financially struggling matric students
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: UGC
A 21-year-old Johannesburg matric learner with a handwritten sign at a busy intersection, asking passing motorists for help with his matric dance. What followed changed his life and sparked a campaign to help hundreds of students just like him.
Thabang Kgasane attends Moses Maren Mission Technical Secondary School and had been looking forward to his school's matric dance, scheduled for 23 September. Unable to afford a suit, shoes and other expenses without putting strain on his family, he chose to try raising the money himself. He stood along Lavender Street in Lenasia, dressed in his school uniform, holding a sign that read "Matric Dance Donations."
On his first day, he collected around R300. On his second, he raised R1,500. Then someone filmed him.
From one intersection to the whole country
The video spread quickly across social media. Offers poured in from strangers across South Africa. One person offered a V-Class vehicle for the evening. Others stepped forward to cover clothing costs and additional matric dance expenses. What started as a quiet act of determination became a national conversation.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
As more people engaged with Thabang's story, more of his circumstances came to light. He grew up in the Eastern Cape, where he repeated Grades 3, 7 and 10. After relocating to Gauteng, his academic performance improved significantly. He hopes to complete matric, become the first person in his family to hold a matric certificate, and eventually study civil engineering. Thabang said:
"I'm motivated and I don't give up easily, I go after what I want and I believe I will achieve my goals regardless of what people say."
Source: Getty Images
Because of Thabang
Campaign organiser Vuyisa Sigonyela helped mobilise early support and quickly realised Thabang's needs extended well beyond the dance. The campaign is now assisting him with housing, food and other daily essentials while he works towards completing matric.
When other students began reaching out to ask if help was available for them too, Sigonyela launched the Because of Thabang BackaBuddy campaign six days ago with a R100,000 target. The funds are intended for verified education-related needs such as school fees, uniforms, stationery, university application fees and registration costs.
So far, 52 donors have contributed over R12,000. Donations have ranged from R30 to R2,000. One donor gave R30 with the message:
"It is not much but I hope it helps."
A R200 contributor told Thabang:
"You're gonna go far."
Thabang remains at the centre of the initiative, but the campaign has grown into something much larger than one learner's matric dance. The goal is simple: the next student in need should not have to stand at a traffic light before someone notices them.
More Briefly News stories on matric dances
- A South African woman shared the cost breakdown of her high-class MD degree, giving insight into what she spent on her studies.
- A matric student’s street plea for donations towards his matric dance caught Mzansi’s attention, with people rallying to support him.
- A learner’s appeal for matric dance donations went viral, prompting a wave of support from South Africans.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
