An overseas good Samaritan has offered to help Manenberg children who make music on home-made instruments by donating proper equipment, after reading about them in the Daily Voice.
Mohammed Abbas, who lives in Auckland, New Zealand, saw the video called the “Beat of Manenberg” last week.
In the video, five little musicians, aged nine to 14, can be seen playing makeshift instruments while Manenberg resident Fareed Jansen makes a video of them outside their Joyce Court home.
Fareed shared the video on Facebook and it soon went viral.
In the clip, the laaities are seen klopping nommers on recycled materials.
“They use empty, recycled containers to make the instruments, there is a five-litre water canister, 20-litre paint blik, a coffee tin and some metal sheets with broken broomsticks,” says Fareed.
He says he uploaded the video to spread “feel-good” cheer and had no idea his video would go viral.
“I said to you last week, since (Rashied) Staggie died, people had this perception that gangsterism and crime would boil over here in Manenberg, people thought that his death meant we would be prisoners in our own homes, but they are wrong, look at how lekker these boys are playing outside freely,” Fareed says.
“I wish I could give them real instruments and put them among professional band players for them to show off their kwaai skills.”
Now his wish looks to be coming true.
Mohammed, a father of three and manager at an energy company, says he read about their story on the Daily Voice’s Facebook page and immediately sprang into action.
ORDERED THE DRUM KITS: Mohammed Abbas.
“I’m an expat now living in Auckland, New Zealand,” he says.
“I read your article about the home-made band in Manenberg. I only have one New Year’s goal and that’s to pay it forward, so I’d like to set these kids up with a real drum set or some instruments to get them started.”
Mohammed says he has ordered the drum kits online and the kids should expect the delivery this week.