R25 000 donation presented to the Voortrekker Monument

AfriForum and representatives of the Voortrekker Monument Draf & Stap Klub presented the Voortrekker Monument with a donation of R25 000 this morning. This amount is the proceeds of the 2020 AfriForum Springbok Vasbyt Road Race organised by the club and sponsored by AfriForum.

This year the race took place on 11 July and in view of the COVID-19 restrictions, it was decided to go ahead with the race virtually. Approximately 265 athletes participated in it all over the world. Even in Scotland, Ireland, the USA, Botswana and Namibia people walked, jogged and ran in the race. It was decided that the income generated with the race would be donated to the Voortrekker Monument. Due to the restriction requirements, this institution was obliged to remain closed for months, which meant a major financial setback for the monument. It has just reopened to visitors.

This morning, the R25 000 donation was presented to Cecilia Kruger, the Managing Director of the Voortrekker Monument and Heritage Foundation, by Joep Joubert on behalf of the Voortrekker Monument Draf & Stap Klub and Alana Bailey on behalf of AfriForum. Joubert and Bailey expressed the hope that more institutions and individuals would support the Voortrekker Monument and appealed to the public to visit this unique heritage site.

Tributes were also paid during the ceremony to Leon Bezuidenhout (1966–2020), founder of the club, who passed away on Sunday. Heartfelt condolences are expressed to his loved ones.