Happy Matric Dance, class of 2024!

The matric dance season is upon us. With costs going up to 18k, how are low-income communities coping?

Since I had some experience with this last year, I would respond to this question myself. The short answer is that, despite their best efforts, low-income communities are unable to avoid the expense. As a result, schools are forced to leave behind students who are unable to pay participation or registration fees.

I found this situation while giving motivational talks at ElethuThemba High School. I learnt that several children were being left behind due to the nonpayment of registration fees. I offered to assist three. Not that I had the money, but I unwittingly thought I could find cheaper ways to do this.

After I had paid the registration for all three girls, the enormous task of finding the perfect dresses, shoes, hairdressers, nail technicians, and jewellery began.

What I thought would be an easy task turned into a giant task. Not because the task was huge, but because the children had high expectations—social media had set the terms.

I learnt quickly that there is only one way to arrive at a matric dance: in a high-end glitzy dress with shoes, hairstyle, and makeup to match.

My initial budget of R5000 for all three girls quickly shifted to R2500/3000 per child. I cannot even speak of the amount of travel I did. A feat I would not have achieved without the help of friends and Eight Red Apples supporters.

As I called each person for assistance, I reminded them that being left behind would probably not be the first for the girls, nor would it be the last; going, however, would expose them to the life lived by those who are lucky not to live in the world they live in and possibly change the course of their dreams.

We all held this dream for the girls until the night in question. On September 29, 2023, the girls stepped out beautiful and graceful, proud and happy of their transformations and of who they had become for just that one night.

As sponsors, teachers, and parents, we watched with our eyes full of tears and hopes that this day would map a new path for them.

Due to circumstances, we were not able to sponsor any children this year, but we hope to do so next year again. I hope that many will join me as they did in 2023.

I wish all 2024 matriculants a happy Matric Dance and a future filled with all the glitz and glamour they imagine.