Dear friends, 

On March 19th 2023, I watched with shock and disbelief at a report about Mapungubwe Foundation Center, on Carte Blanche, a TV show from South Africa. The entire report left me unsettled and honestly, very hurt. Allegations were made about this foundation, which I started, and my participation running the place over the years, and the allegations are false and grossly misleading. 

The idea to start Mapungubwe Foundation Center came to me some time after I bought my game reserve close to Alldays, Limpopo and became part of this community I have come to love more and more. In my walkabouts in the community, I witnessed children in need of help, destitute, without any proper care. I felt I must help out and spoke to my family and with everyone’s support, I started the work. I consulted the community and the municipality on the need for a care center that would cater to children and orphaned children – the community was small enough for us to effectively address this need. I was offered land next to a drop-in centre to build what I hoped would be an orphanage that makes a difference in the community. It was, and it remains, for me, about uplifting the children and the center helps fulfill that mission.

This project was delivered with my own funds and with funds from my life-long business relationships and networks. Many of the people who participated did so because of their trust in me, that I would ensure their contributions were used appropriately on the project. Without these contributions this project could not been realized and I’m very proud and thankful for all the support.

When we built the center, we worked with local contractors and employed locally, impacting the livelihoods of the local community in every way we possibly could. I was proud of what we were building for South Africa. It was needed and necessary to elevate our community, and in the same breadth, inspire others in the same position as myself to also make a difference in their communities.

Upon completion, the center started operating immediately. From my network of friends, family and colleagues, volunteers put their hands up and joined the center to contribute in many ways. The center has delivered care to vulnerable children in Alldays and continues to. At the moment, we have approximately 20 children who drop in daily, for food, clean water, healthcare, tutoring, sports and play. Many volunteers have stayed and worked at the center, giving the kids hope for a better, and dignified life.

I continue to bear majority of the costs of maintaining and running the center, and we continue to find volunteers to help. I fund this personally, and through the Rahmqvist Foundation. Children are still benefiting, and we have also started doing skills development programmes, empowering young people so that they realise a better life for themselves. Some of the skills programmes include dressmaking, computer literacy, hairdressing, and catering. As with any community program, the activities are always evolving to meet the changing needs of the society, but the heart and DNA do not change – the projects around Mapungubwe Foundation continues to be about making a meaningful difference to the children and younger population of Alldays.

I believe that privilege means nothing if I cannot use it to help others, and that is simply what I am trying to do in Alldays – to help vulnerable children and the community. It is precisely why this TV report is very hurtful.

I have nothing to hide, and to my knowledge no investigation is happening as no one has reached out to me. I will cooperate with any investigation from any authority if that would be the case. From our end, we will also do our own inquiry with an external, independent auditor, and we will be open to the findings for direction.

Everyone is welcome to pop in at the center and see for themselves the work we are doing, and hopefully lend a hand too. There is still much to be done to improve the lives of vulnerable children in Alldays, and we can use all the help we can get. 

I’m deeply thankful for the help and support I’ve gotten from the community and local municipality. I’m as well deeply thankful to all the people that have supported and contributed to the center in different ways throughout the years. Without everyone’s support this center would not have been possible.

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or comments on the matter. 

Yours sincerely,

Leif Rahmqvist