The saying “seeing is believing” rings especially true for Komani retailers Abrie and Wessel Erasmus.
The father and son, who run SUPERSPAR Protea, recently helped 1 000 children who had been struggling to read due to poor vision to see clearly now.
The store’s See for Free project is one of several initiatives they have driven in the community.
They have also touched the lives of autistic children and some of the town’s brightest young minds.
The See for Free initiative asked customers to donate R5 to local kids with visual issues over a two-year period.
With the proceeds, the duo bought hundreds of prescription glasses and donated these to learners. They were even fitted by a local eyewear business.
“All the schools were contacted and word spread quickly,” Abrie, explaining that each child received a pair on the house, says.
The formidable father and son combination did not stop there either. They paid for four children’s eye surgeries.
Abrie and Wessel Erasmus, who run SUPERSPAR Protea in Komani, invest in the community in a variety of ways. The upgrade of a school for autistic learners is just one example. Photo: Supplied
A specialist offered a discounted rate while a local hospital also joined the party.
“That’s the philosophy of our projects – we like to bring everybody together. The more people involved, the better it is for the project and our community,” Abrie says.
Investing in the eyesight of the young ones is especially close to the family’s heart as his wife has battled with her vision for years – to the point that she flies to Johannesburg every month for specialised treatment.
A project that has resonated deeply with Wessel is the recent upgrade of a school for autistic children.
They pulled in a security company and carpeting business to help enhance the learning environment. They also funded and installed TVs and laptops to aid teaching.
Wessel explains that Komani parents with autistic children often have to send them to other provinces to receive the type of education they need.
“Since we’ve done the revamp, they are actually bringing their kids back. Now they can see them daily instead of every two months.”
That is not all.
The Erasmuses have also funded the studies of two students at Mandela University in Gqeberha, one of whom recently qualified as a chartered accountant.
The other is the son of a woman who has been selling tomatoes on the streets of Komani for years.
Wessel approached his dad with the proposal as the youngster was showing tremendous potential and their good deed was duly rewarded when he passed his final year cum laude.
“We were all crying at his graduation,” Abrie adds.
“Our only criterion for funding young people is that they study something that will get them a job one day. They don’t have to pay back a cent.”
One of their ongoing projects is returning the historic Queenstown Golf Club to its former glory.
They have staged golf days for the past two years to raise funds, roping in local businesses and even some of their suppliers to gift some impressive prizes.
Last year’s event was fully booked and, based on the enquiries, it looks like they are heading for another one.
They also teamed up with Build it to purchase TVs for the club so that members can watch live sport while enjoying a drink together.
“This way the club can generate an income,” Abrie explains.
Transferring money is easy, he says. Making a long-term difference not so much.