LOCAL HEROES | Ngqeleni philanthropist changing thousands of young lives

For 13-year-old Lindiwe Mvandaba of Nomcamba village in Ngqeleni, a new pair of school shoes means far more than something to wear — it means restored dignity. “When Mr Mancotywa gave me new shoes, I walked to school with pride for the first time. “He restored my dignity and made me believe I could be anything,” she said.

She is one of about 4,000 children who have benefited from entrepreneur and philanthropist Bulelani “Khiwa” Mancotywa’s school shoe campaign since 2021. Mancotywa’s own childhood of poverty and hunger inspired a lifelong promise that no child in his community should endure what he did. Nomcamba, one of the poorest villages in Ngqeleni, has found a champion in the 35-year-old founder of Khiwa’s Media, who remembers surviving on wild berries and fruit, walking barefoot to school and crossing rivers to get an education.

“I remember the pain of going to bed hungry, the embarrassment of torn uniforms and the long walks to school,” he said. “Those memories inspire me to ensure that no child endures what I did.” Now an entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mancotywa has channelled his success back into the community that raised him. “I am who I am because of my community’s support during my darkest days. “Giving back is not a choice — it’s a calling,” he said.