PeacePlayers South Africa Storybook FINAL - Flipbook - Page 70
You'll always hear a ball bouncing at Cwebezela Primary School
in Umlazi L section outside of school hours. Simamukele Vacu
and Itumeleng Mhlambi share an energy and love for the game
that they have been bonding through since January 2021, when
they first met on these courts. The two young men are early into
their friendship, and they have an upbringing with far more
similarities than differences.
They bonded within the game and in their personal experiences.
Inevitably discovering they have a shared influential figure
in their lives who is their pride and joy - their “Gogos” or
Grandmothers. Their grandmothers’ presence in their respective
lives came about as a result of unique circumstances.
Sadly, Simamukele’s mom passed away just one year after he
was born. Since then, his Gogo has shouldered the load of a
mother for Simamukele, his sister, his aunt & his aunt's kids
all under one roof. Simamukele notes that his Gogo is like his
lifeline because she has “done everything for me - she supports
me when I play basketball; buys me stationery for school; and
she is my alarm clock every morning to get to school.” His Gogo
says she is “grateful for the tight-knit family structure regardless
of the challenges along the way.”
Itumeleng also lived with his Gogo most of his life, since he
was 3 weeks old to be exact. He was very ill when he was born.
Simultaneously, his mother was still in university focused on
her studies while his dad dropped out of university for the army.
His Gogo had to step in. She took him to Isipingo Hospital where
he was treated for his pneumonia. Since then, Itumeleng says
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PEACEPLAYERS SOUTH AFRICA STORYBOOK
