By: Motshabi Hoaeane
Families and small businesses gathered at the Ponong Sports Ground to mark Father’ Day with a fun day that integrated rated small businesses and encouraged the spirit of family. The event was filled with lots of activities among them were soccer matches from the children’s junior soccer teams, indigenous games such as morabaraba and as well as the highlight of the whole event – musical performances from musicians Thandeka Mhlongo, King Vessa, and, Kumkani.
Founder of Mbokodo Network, Landu Mnguni, who is also finalist of the 2025 Women Changing the World Global Awards said this day was inspired by the need to incorporate women’s business with fun activities that will create a nurturing environment of a nurturing environment for children who didn’t have the presence of fathers in their lives. She also added that encouraging a holistic lifestyle for children was also the reason, as a lot of the children mostly spend their time on screens and the fun day provides relief from this and promotes their engagement in activities that get the body moving and healthy.
“Our primary focus as an organisation is women’s entrepreneurial development, however, through all our engagement with women we end up dealing with social issues, and among these are fatherless children and relationship problems.” Mguni said.
She averred that the main purpose was “just to have present fathers in the family structure”. She added that more needs to be done to involve fathers in their childrens’ lives. Mnguni said.
Coach of the Ponong Children’s Soccer Team, Thabiso Mahlangu popularly known as Shakes praised the initiative and that it was good that fathers and parents attend such events to be able to see the progress of their children, and be with them when they play. He said fathers must take pride in being present at matches for their children – as this would also serve as an oversight measure to know what is lacking in their children’s development.
