Anonymous donor saves Eastridge boy’s Drakensberg dreams

An anonymous donor has saved the dreams of a young Eastridge pupil at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School whose parents were battling to pay his school fees.

Ethan Palagangwe, 10, who is currently attending the school in KwaZulu-Natal needed R54 000 in tuition fees.

In total Ethan needed R180 000, R91 000 of which had already been raised through a BackaBuddy campaign and donations from friends and family.

Ethan’s father, Kagisho Palagangwe said they received a call on Friday July 30 informing them of the good news.

The woman who called, he said, informed them that a donor had paid Ethan’s fees for the rest of the year.

"We are truly blessed and really super happy. However, we are still looking for sponsors, bursaries or scholarships for our son for next year,” said Mr Palagangwe.

The funds are needed to cover tuition fees, accommodation, school and choir uniform and food, but excludes flights to and from home and school.

Mr Palagangwe said the school had sent him and his wife a letter requesting the R54 000 for Ethan’s tuition - which the family did not have. He then asked the school’s academic department if there was a payment plan available or financial assistance for pupils like Ethan.

It was then that the woman who wants to remain anonymous, came through for Ethan and paid his tuition fees.

Ethan first made the news when he successfully auditioned to be part of the famous boys’ choir (“Dreams of Drakensberg”, Plainsman, November 18 2020).

“We were in a very awkward and uncomfortable position and it was very worrying for our family. We will still have to accumulate more funds - as much as we can.

“The donors are also in a predicament with Covid-19. They are affected by it and the funds are not flowing as before. We are working hard to have Ethan stay at Drakensberg,” said Mr Palagangwe.