The Castle Lite SuperSport Shootout is more than an entertaining weekend of golf and socialising: it has raised over R4-million since the inaugural event in 2004. The 2010 event, held at Simola from 23 to 25 April, raised R1 381 000 to be donated to SAB’s chosen beneficiary, the SAB Caddies Educational Trust and the Gozololo Centre for Needy Children.
The amount was raised primarily through the auction on the Saturday evening. Generous pledges were also made by participants and Castle Lite ran a challenging Extra Cold Challenge on the snowed-over 17
th hole, whereby players were challenged to hit within a designated area around the pin. Only one player’s golfing prowess was up to the Challenge: Nazeer Camaroodeen. His successful shot saw Castle Lite donate R25 000 to the SAB Caddies Educational Trust.
The Trust is an initiative that gives the children of local golf caddies, and the caddies themselves, the opportunity to apply for financial assistance to further their education. The Trust currently supports 84 students in a number of different educational stages from primary and secondary schools through to tertiary institutions where beneficiaries are guided to make the right career choices.
One of the SAB Caddies Educational Trust’s beneficiaries is Petrus 'Victor' Hlatshwayo, a caddy at the Glendower Golf Club. His daughter had always dreamt of a career in computers, but furthering that dream was impossible on a caddy’s pay. Victor was put in touch with the Trust which is now paying for Neo’s studies in full. She is currently a second-year student in internet engineering and Neo and Victor are embracing a future filled with infinite possibility.
Silindelo Hlongwa, a caddy at the Durban Country Club, was forced to drop out of his engineering studies at the KwaZulu-Natal Coastal College when he hit financial troubles. Through the Trust he returned to the classroom in 2008 and is now a qualified boilermaker doing his internship at SAB.
The Gozololo Centre for Needy Children has been an integral part of the Shootout since its inception. The KwaZulu-Natal-based charity operates out of four centres and has progressed from an organisation delivering care and support to 25 children to one that provides clothing; food; and education needs to over 2 300 children from the poorest areas in Kwa-Mashu; Bhambayi; and Mzinyathi.
Money raised at this year’s Castle Lite SuperSport Shootout will be used to help many more worthy beneficiaries from the SAB Caddies Educational Trust realise their dreams, and will make a difference in the lives of many less privileged children though the Gozololo Centre.