YOUTUBER and reality TV star Lasizwe has angrily said South Africans are ungrateful.
This is after tweeps attacked him for a week, accusing him of stealing R2 million that he and his team – Sibu Mabena, Takkies Dinwiddy and Ayanda “KingAya” Mhlongo – collected in March for students at tertiary institutions.
On Saturday, 28 August, he posted a video saying if South Africans continue this way, he will not do the project anymore.
In the video, a visibly emotional Lasizwe said he will be addressing the issue for the last time.
“This is the last time I talk about this. First of all, I’d like to thank every person who contributed to the #10GoesALongWay initiative. If it wasn’t for your contributions, we wouldn’t have raised R2 million.
“Secondly, my team and I are not crowd funders. We have never crowdfunded before. It’s our first time. And due to it being our first time, we said we don’t want to make any mistakes. We said let’s partner up with an organisation called Fundi because they have access to universities and can see which students have registered. We know some of you take chances and we didn’t want that to happen,” he said.
Lasizwe then asked why the students who benefitted from the project are not saying anything.
“Actually, why are the students who benefitted from this initiative quiet? Why are you quiet? You guys are seeing this fire, people are fighting, and you guys are quiet. Can all the students who benefitted from this initiative stand up and say their registration was paid,” he said.
ALSO READ : LUCASRAPS JOINS DEF JAM AFRICA!
He then said South Africans are ungrateful.
“It gets to this point where I say ama South African awana dankie. Asina dankie. Yes, to a certain point, I understand why we are ungrateful because we live in a country with corruption, but not everyone is like that. If we continue like this, I’m not going to do #10GoesALongWay next year. I’m not gonna do it, it’s too stressful,” he said.
In a now deleted tweet, he said people will crucify him whether he does good or bad.
“You do bad, they crucify you. You do good, they still crucify you. I am honestly hurt this time around. I think this is my first and last time doing #10GoesALongWay. To all the students that benefited from this, please do your best and pass! Don’t do it for me, do it for yourself,” he wrote.
Students who benefitted from the initiative spoke up and shared proof with people on Twitter.
His sister, Khanyi Mbau also commented, saying it breaks her heart that this initiative has turned to be this bad.
“This breaks my heart, not only because you are my brother but how a good gesture has turned so bad and we forget the intention behind @lasizwe starting this. Fundi, can we please get an explanation on this unfortunate case affecting the nation,” said Khanyi.
Fundi shared the campaign report with the People’s Paper last week, confirming that they received the money from Lasizwe and his team.
“A total of R2 192 462,58 was pledged. Of the pledged amount, R1 072 462,58 was actually received from the pledged funds. The fulfilment of pledges are underway. Payment of outstanding pledges are in progress, and 17 000 applications were received, 166 students were drawn to get their fees funded in the first draw session,” said Fundi.
“A total of R530 032 of the received pledged funds were disbursed and successfully paid to the selected students who were publicly drawn and verified by our auditors. We are in the process of reviewing practical options for the disbursement of the balance of the paid-up pledges, equal to R542 430,58.”
