‘THE LORD of horses’, the other title Enos Mafokate is fondly referred by, and riders from his Soweto Equestrian Centre, have been invited to visit the Berne Vaulting Club of Germany in June.
This breakthrough development was announced at a media conference at the Rockville-based center on Saturday morning of March 19, 2022.
Accompanying the 77-year-old groom will be eight under-19 children as well as five adults, most of whom are Soweto-based.
Due to spend three weeks at the European country, the purpose of the South Africans visit is geared three-fold: towards their development, the broadening of their vaulting experience and in addition to building an international network and garnering of new experiences which would assist their development into exceptional future sports men and women.
Under the theme, “The First Black Show Jumper: Enos Mafokate”, the upcoming trip would also be in celebration of the elderly mentor’s 42 years in the sport of showjumping, as well as honouring him being the first South African to compete in Europe and Africa. Not only will the visit involve their being put through vigorous horse vaulting programs and participating in an internal competition – but the travelling crew will also be treated to sightseeing opportunities.
Ahead of the conference at the location around the Elkah Sports Complex, the equestrian center was buzzing with multiple activities within a farm-esque setting with horses, donkeys, ducks and chickens milling around and interacting with humans.
A stream meandering through the grounds added a pastoral appearance to the place. One of the guests on the morning, a cattle farmer who is a stakeholder roped-in to assist in landscaping around the center, even had on a T-shirt which looked in place inscribed with the statement: never underestimate a man with a tractor. The person, Mduduzi Nkosi was in fellow company since Mafokate grew up on a maize farm in Rivonia whereat he cared for guests’ horses while they picnicked.
Donning a brand less green and gold tracksuit from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics (at which he participated at the insistence of Dr Sam Ramsamy) at the media conference, Mafokate (Kwaito musician, Arthur’s dad) took the assembled media corps and guests down memory lane regarding his lifelong association with the majestic animals and even stirred mirth with his relating of an anecdote from 1982 when once, whilst watching a game of polo on the royal grounds at Windsor Park in England, a spectator standing next to him suddenly announced, “There approaches my wife!” when a lady driving a Range Rover down a slope appeared into view. It was Queen Elizabeth II and the speaker was her husband Prince Phillip and their son Prince Charles was playing.
All along, Mafokate hadn’t recognized the older prince. His association with the British Royals didn’t end there, with 30 years later in 2012, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, paying a courtesy visit to the Soweto Equestrian Centre.
Yet, as Morena wa dipere (the lord of horses) recalled, his involvement with horse and the sport of showjumping hasn’t been an easy ride – rather one saddled with apartheid imposed barriers, lack of financial support for development and no appreciation for his contributions, inter alia.
It has been a lengthy sojourn for him from when back in 1977, a White couple, Errol and Anneli Wucherpfennig strove for him to become the very first Black member of the then Transvaal Horse Society.
Evidence of Mafokate’s recognitions were in abundant display at the centre and included the Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket as well as the Rand Show Medal (an honour bestowed unto him and former footballer, Lucas Radebe.)
At the conference, nine of the children accompanying him for the Germany trip were paraded, donning catchy costumes, in front of the assembly and included the youngest rider, 7-year-old Hlelo Dlamini who started out at the tender age of four.
With three years of vaulting experience, she later displayed her skills on Lollipop the pony, on the centre’s grounds.
One of the travelling kids, 15-year-old Meadowlands-based Grade 10 student, Naledi Segale, who described being wowed by the movement of horses from a young age, said about the upcoming trip: “To come here and being told that I’m going to go to Germany is such a fantastic opportunity not just for me but my team and South Africa. Germany is one of the best teams, so they are going to teach us a lot about vaulting. It’s an exciting sport, it shows harmony between you and the horses. This whole combination of a person and nature, and a child and nature – so, I’m really excited to go, it’s just going to be an awakening call to all of us, it’s going to show us the real true side of vaulting.”
Segale’s team is indeed headed in the right direction and deservedly so as their accolades include participating in the South African Vaulting Championships and winning the Gauteng Championships for individuals at Kyalami.
At the gathering, the centre’s project manager, Julia Moroka, made an impassioned plea for the country’s sports ministry and business to sponsor its endeavours.
Present also on the day, were volunteers from ZLTO, a Jabulani-based innovation platform which incentivizes entities such as Mafokate’s for doing good among society.
They’ve lately been lending assistance by performing tasks such as picking up horse droppings and even provided snacks and drinks at the media conference for guests and children invited along.
Images Jacob MAWELA (The 15 year old Soweto Equastrian Center member Naledi Segale showing her skills on a pony Lollipop whilst mentor and founder Enos Mafokate monitored the horse on a leash).
