about songo.info

“Sport has the power to change the world, it has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.”
Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
African Proverb
“A bike can change a life, it changed mine.”
Christoph Sauser
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Years in operation
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Children supported daily
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Children’s lives impacted since 2008
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School lunches served since 2018

what we do

songo.info is a social development programme based in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch, using education and sport to provide opportunities for children to learn, grow and play in a safe and supportive environment, while instilling the life skills necessary for a brighter future.

Kayamandi, like many townships in South Africa, is a vibrant but impoverished neighbourhood with historical social challenges including unemployment, gangsterism, alcohol and drug abuse. Many of its youth are trapped in cycles of poverty and violence and opportunities to escape this are scarce. Local state-run education facilities are overcrowded and struggle to equip students with even basic reading and arithmetic skills.

Against this challenging backdrop songo.info provides safety, confidence, hope and opportunity to 130 children, aged 5 to 18, from when they leave school in the afternoon until 6pm in the evening, five days a week. We do this by focusing on three core developmental pillars: Sport, Education and Life Skills.

songo.info is a registered South African Trust (IT 1515/2011) and a registered PBO (930049722) 

our vision and values

Our vision

Our key objective is to nurture each child through the songo.info programme to be a confident, well-rounded individual who is gainfully employed, a role model and a contributing member of the community.

Our values

Respect: be open, polite, well-mannered and punctual at all times. Respect others, the equipment, and your environment.
Honesty: be truthful, proud and trustworthy.
Accountability: take responsibility for your actions, do what you say you will do.
Commitment: be reliable, dedicated and consistent.

our history

2008
  • After a chance meeting between Swiss mountain biking legend, Christoph Sauser, and Kayamandi community leader and sports activist, Songo Fipaza, songo.info is born!
  • Christoph and South African Burry Stander team up to race the Absa Cape Epic together for the first time to raise money to build a BMX track in Kayamandi.
  • BMX track completed later in the year and first group of kids join the programme.
  • Mountain biking introduced into the Songo programme.
  • Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander race the Cape Epic together again as team Songo-Specialized to promote Cycling 4 Kayamandi.
  • Songo registered as an independent trust.
  • The riding programme continues to grow with more bikes and equipment being donated to allow more children to learn to cycle.
  • Team 36One-songo-Specialized (Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander) win the Absa Cape Epic.
  • The first two teams of Songo development riders compete in and finish the Absa Cape Epic.
  • Basic renovations of derelict building adjacent to the BMX track begin.
  • The first songo.info Champions Race is held with the world’s best mountain bikers racing through the streets of Kayamandi in support of Songo.
  • Songo rider wins the Western Province Spur Schools Mountain Bike League.
  • 36One-songo-Specialized (Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander) win the Absa Cape Epic.
  • Songo riders Sipho and Azukile win the first Exarro Jersey at the Absa Cape Epic and later that year represent SA at World Duathlon Champs.
  • Vehicle and bike trailer donated to help with transport to expanding BMX and MTB race event programme.
  • Official opening of the songo.info Clubhouse.
  • Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy win the Absa Cape Epic in honour of friend and trustee Burry Stander.
  • Songo rider Theo represents South Africa at World DH Champs.
  • Christmas party outing to Zip-Zap circus and the Cheetah outreach programme.
  • Education programme introduced.
  • Songo riders Sipho and Azukile win Exxaro Development Category, with a top-50 finish at Absa Cape Epic.
  • Songo rider represents South Africa at XCM World Champs.
  • BMX riders attend all 3 BMX National events.
  • Christmas party outing to Boulders Beach.

50 children (6-18 years old)
6 full-time staff

  • songo.info partners with Investec Asset Mangement (now Ninety One Asset Mangement) in historic multi-year CSI initiative.
  • Programme is consolidated and reduced to 50 children, all receiving sport (cycling) coaching and educational assistance.
  • songo.info graduate, Sivuyile ‘Switch’ Kepelele, completes bike technician course and joins songo.info programme.
  • Sipho Madolo completes Sports Management diploma and joins songo.info management team. Still with the charity today.
  • Team Investec-songo-Specialized (Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy) win the Cape Epic for the second time together.
  • Sipho Madolo represents South Africa at African Cross-country (XCO) Championships in Musanze, Rwanda and UCI XCO World Championships in Vallnord, Andorra.
  • Theo Ngubani represents Western Province at the South African DH Cup.
  • Azukile Simayile represents Western Province at ATU Duathlon African Championships.

50 children (6-18 years old), 4 graduates
6 full-time staff

  • Abandoned and vandalised municipal building adjacent to the songo.info BMX track receives major upgrades. Used as songo.info clubhouse, including classrooms, a computer lab, kitchen, toilets, workshop and storage.
  • Reading Eggs literacy programme is launched to assist children with English reading skills and numeracy. Nozuko Mpemnyama joins songo.info as the Reading Eggs facilitator.
  • songo.info supports four songo.info graduates’ tertiary education: Azukile Simayile (Computer Science/IT); Lwazi Ntshakaza; Sikelela Tabata and Theo Ngubani (Architectural draughtsmanship).
  • Azukile Simayile represents South Africa at ITU World Duathlon Championships in Spain, finishing 12th.
  • Team Investec-songo-Specialized (Sipho Madolo and Christoph Sauser) race the Cape Epic, finishing 33rd.
  • Sipho Madolo represents South Africa at African XCO Championships at Afriski, Lesotho, the UCI XCO World Cup in Lenzerheide, Switzerland and UCI XCO World Championships in Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic.
  • Sipho Madolo chaperones songo.info graduates at La Leyenda del Dorado, Colombia’s biggest mountain bike stage race.
  • Two songo.info girls take part in the Maserati Cycle Challenge in London, UK.

50 children (6-18 years old), 4 graduates
6 full-time staff

  • songo.info Library opens in our clubhouse, providing reading material and school text books for each grade.
  • Introduction of the holiday programme to allow access to the songo.info clubhouse and support children and working families during school holidays.
  • songo.info supports four songo.info graduates’ tertiary education: Lwazi Ntshakaza; Sikelela Tabata; Theo Ngubani (Architectural draughtsmanship) and Anele Volibi.
  • Team Investec-songo-Specialized (Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy) place 2nd at the Cape Epic, with Christoph coming out of retirement to race.
  • Two songo.info teams compete in the Exxaro development category at the Cape Epic.
  • Zizo and Lakhanya awarded South African number boards at SA BMX Nationals in Kempton Park, Gauteng.
  • Sipho Madolo competes in Perskindol Swiss Epic in Grächen, Switzerland, places 13th.
  • Azukile Simayile and Lwazi Ntshakaza compete at La Leyenda del Dorado, Colombia.

50 children (6-18 years old), 4 graduates
6 full-time staff

  • Palisade fence and security cameras installed around the clubhouse and BMX track – to provide a safe and secure environment for children and staff.
  • BMX track reconstruction is completed after fence is installed.
  • Songo matriculant ‘Star’ Someleze receives 7 distinctions and is accepted to Stellenbosch University to study Finance.
  • School lunch feeding programme initiated, providing daily nutritious meals to each child on arrival at the songo.info clubhouse.
  • Investec-songo-Specialized women’s team (Annika Langvad and Kate Courtney) wins the Cape Epic.
  • Investec-songo-Specialized men’s team (Jaroslav Kulhavy and Howard Grotts) wins the Cape Epic.
  • Three Songo riders compete at BMX National Series races

50 children (6-18 years old), 7 graduates
6 full-time staff

  • Landscaping, tree planting and greening of BMX track and adjacent areas.
  • Close working relationship with the Social Welfare and Social Development Departments in Kayamandi to better support our children and their families.
  • Ninety One-songo-Specialized women’s team (Annika Langvad and Anna van der Breggan) win the Cape Epic.
  • Three Songo riders compete at BMX National Series races.

50 children (6-18 years old), 4 graduates
7 full-time staff

  • songo.info clubhouse and BMX track shut down in March as a result of global Corona virus pandemic.
  • songo.info Champions Race goes ahead but Cape Epic is cancelled 24 hours before the Prologue start.
  • songo.info pivots to address Kayamandi community’s most immediate needs.
  • Thanks to our donors Songo staff distribute more than 90,000 meals to food-insecure families in Kayamandi during South Africa’s hard lockdown measures.
  • During the lockdown period, songo.info management team uses the opportunity to re-evaluate the direction and needs of the programme as a whole. A programme restructure and new growth strategy is implemented to better serve the Kayamandi community’s children.
  • Following the Covid lockdown partnership with Pebbles Kitchen, and with their guidance and expertise, songo.info improves its lunch programme when the clubhouse reopens. Now providing a hot nutritious meal for every child every day.
  • songo.info partners with School in a Box (SiaB) to pilot the tablet-based online programme. SiaB provides South African CAPS subjects from Grade 1 to Matric, and is designed to help children catch up on missed schoolwork during the year. Star Someleze is hired to support the children with SiaB. Total employees now 7.
  • songo.info pioneers a trail-building internship program, in partnership with Specialized Bicycles and two Stellenbosch trail builders: Conrad Stoltz and Bennet Nel.

75 children (4-18 years old), 7 graduates
7 full-time staff

  • Programme increased from 50 to 75 children.
  • Obstacle course erected at the clubhouse to help build healthy, strong bodies with fun outdoor play.
  • Occupational Therapist Bronwyn is introduced to provide assessments of beneficiaries. Testing uncovers eyesight and hearing issues. After assisting those affected teachers and tutors see immediate improvements in the classroom.
  • Four songo.info graduates (Azukile, Someleze, Asabonga and Songezo) give back to the education programme by mentoring and tutoring high-school beneficiaries.
  • Two songo.info graduates, Songezo and Someleze (aka ‘Star’) join our education team – assisting with tutoring of high school children and facilitating Reading Eggs online programme.
  • Ntlantla Nonkasa finishes his Sports Management studies and joins the programme as a BMX and MTB coach.
  • songo.info partners with The Learning Trust, an organization specializing in benchmarking academic impact and outcomes across South Africa. According to Learning Trust reports, Songo beneficiaries improve from 50% to 62% average in Maths.
  • songo.info introduces a volunteer programme with Stellenbosch University, brining 20 international students to assist with one-on-one tutoring in literacy and numeracy.
  • Massage therapist internship program is set up, with two songo.info graduates joining EPT Recovery company, qualifying as sports massage therapists and working at mountain bike stage race Wines2Whales.
  • Ninety One-songo-Specialized women’s team (Sina Frei and Laura Stigger) win the Cape Epic.
  • Ninety One-songo-Specialized men’s team (Matt Beers and Jordan Sarrou) win the Cape Epic.
  • Launch of “Songo Tots” programme, welcoming children aged 3 to 5 years.

100 children (3-18 years old), 7 graduates
7 full-time, 4 part-time staff

  • Programme increased from 75 to 100 children.
  • Songezo hired part-time as an education facilitator. Denise hired to manage programme finances, bringing total number of full-time and contract employees to 11.
  • Two qualified teachers hired as full-time staff to boost education outcomes.
  • Detailed Learning Trust report reveals Songo beneficiaries improve Maths results from 62% to 75% average.
  • Stellenbosch University International Students Volunteer programme improved and restructured.
  • Specialized South Africa hires two songo.info graduates as full-time bike technicians in Stellenbosch stores.
  • Two graduates enter second year of Trail Building internships with local trail builders in Stellenbosch. At year-end, both are employed full-time by Cape Winelands Club trails. A huge impact for the songo.info community and proud moment as the programme delivers on its stated goals.
  • songo.info partners with Specialized to introduce a weekly visit to their offices. This builds social skills and bike-handling as beneficiaries interact with staff, ride the local office pumptrack and are provided lunch. This outing quickly becomes the weekly highlight for the children!
  • Ninety One-songo-Specialized women’s team (Hayley Batten and Sofia Gomez Villafañe) win Cape Epic.
  • Songo-Ninety One-Epic Legends Masters’ team (Chriostoph Sauser and Karl Platt) win Cape Epic.
  • Ninety One-songo-Specialized men’s team (Matt Beers and Christopher Blevins) finish third at Cape Epic.
  • Bradley Stow replaces his brother Darren as Head Sports Coach, running the coaching and racing programme in BMX and MTB.

100 children (3-18 years old), 3 graduates
7 full-time, 5 part-time staff

  • BMX track is redesigned and shortened, creating space for a play area for the younger children directly in front of the clubhouse.
  • songo.info Open Day launched at the clubhouse, offering the public an opportunity to ride the BMX track and interact with children and staff.
  • 11 young adults supported by the programme: eight gainfully employed and three in tertiary education.
  • Programme Manager, Sipho Madolo, embarks on a mission to engage and ensure beneficiaries’ parents are more involved in their children’s day-to-day lives, bike races and clubhouse activities.
  • “Specialized Fridays” at their Blaauwklippen offices continue. The children’s social development continues to improve.
  • Stellenbosch University International Student volunteer programme increased to 40. Beneficiaries social skills and literacy increasing with increased interactions with volunteers.
  • According to Learning Trust reports, Songo beneficiaries improve from 75% to 90% average in Maths.
  • Ninety One-songo-Specialized men’s team (Matt Beers and Christopher Blevins) win Cape Epic.
  • songo.info graduates (Zola Ngxakeni and Ntlantla Nonkasa) win Cape Epic Exxaro development category.
  • Ninety One-songo-Specialized women’s team (Sofia Gomez Villafañe and Katarina Nash) finish third at Cape Epic.
  • Five young BMX riders qualify for the BMX Nationals and two riders are selected to take part in the BMX Continental Championships in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
  • Ntlantla Nonkasa hired as full-time assistant cycling coach.

100 children (3-18 years old), 4 graduates
6 full-time, 5 part-time staff

  • With funding from a Swiss family, a pre-fab art classroom adjacent to the clubhouse is built.
  • Three songo.info children sent for evaluations with the educational psychologist at beginning of the year. During the course of the academic year they improve to be same level as peers. They are closely monitored for additional support.
  • Increase in the number of straight-A learners in the Songo programme and an overall improvement on school academic reports in the second half of the year.
  • songo.info graduate, Luntu, joins educational team as a School-in-a-Box and homework facilitator. Luntu continues to be an amazing mentor and role model for younger children.
  • songo.info graduate, Bukho joins the successful Trail Building Internship programme, in conjunction with Specialized Bicycles.
  • songo.info graduate, Inathi completes year-long Skyy Aviation Course, and is a qualified airplane cabin steward.
  • Our brightest graduate Someleze ‘Star’ is recruited, having completed a Masters in International Finance at Stellenbosch University.
  • The songo.info Champions Race is back in March after three-year absence!
  • Toyota-Specialized-Ninety One men’s team (Matt Beers and Howard Grotts) win Cape Epic.
  • In October Ovayo wins his age group SA BMX Championships!

130 children (3-18 years old), 4 graduates
7 full-time, 5 part-time staff

  • Programme increased from 75 to 130 children.
  • Art classes begin in January 2025 in newly furnished art classroom, with Swiss volunteer art teacher Salome taking the children on a creative journey.
  • Expansion project underway, with one prefab classroom, to accommodate roughly 30 more children, erected in November. Lunch area built for beneficiaries to enjoy.
  • Thanks to a generous donation from Ninety One, Songo graduates Zizo and Liyema complete TorqZone Certified Bike Technician course and begin apprenticeship at songo.info, looking after the programme’s bikes. Liyema offered employment contract at The Hanger Bike Shop in Somerset West.
  • Songo graduate Lutho joins Specialized at their head office in Stellenbosch as a paid apprentice.
  • Songo graduate Ayabonga successfully applies for Laureus Sport for Good paid internship.
  • Continued improvement in academics in second term.
  • Hired two more qualified teachers to strengthen our education program.
  • Songo’s finest compete at SA BMX Championships in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.
  • Asispho joins as first female coach.
  • Songo management team completes 6-month Laureus Sport for Good incubation course.

our team

management team

Sipho Madolo

General Manager
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Denise White

Head of Finance and Administration

Nicholas Lamond

Marketing & Fundraising Representative

Kay-Dee Adams

Finance and Administration Coordinator

staff

Jodene Meyer

Teacher

Nonkululeko Qusheka

Teacher

Songezo Luwaca

Education Facilitator

Asisipho Ncapha

Educational Facilitator

Bradley Stow

Head Sports Coach

Ntlantla Nonkasa

Assistant Sports Coach

Sivuyile Kepelele

Bike Technician

Ntandokazi Nogqala

Domestic Administrator

Nomvulo Matafeni

Domestic Facilitator

trustees

Christoph Sauser

Sports Ambassador and Founding Member

Catherine Hind

Finance and
HR Representative

Julia Skea

Legal and Compliance Representative

Nicholas Lamond

Marketing & Fundraising Representative

donors and partners include:

respect – honesty – accountability

get involved

There are many ways you can help the children of Kayamandi. Your support is greatly appreciated.

assistance and queries

General
.
Kay-Dee Adams
Finance & Administration Officer
.
Sipho Madolo
General Manager
Cell: 083 966 7989
E-mail: sipho@songo.info

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