It was a happy ending for this Mitchells Plain matric pupil when she was kitted out from head to toe for her special night by a generous business owner.
Siwaphiwe Rubu, 17, from Khayelitsha is the top matric pupil at AZ Berman High School, but her family was unable to afford a dress.
Staff at the school appealed to Bryon Quickfall, 28, the owner of Crazy Bee, a company which manufactures school tracksuits, for help.
OUTFITTED: Shop owner Bryon Quickfall, 28, hands dress to Siwaphiwe in Crazy Bee store. Photo: Tracey Adams/ ANA Pictures
Bryon says he was asked to sponsor Siwaphiwe with a dress, but then decided to give her the “Cinderella treatment” for the ball that took place on Wednesday night.
“We feel she needed the full package, and so we did her hair, make-up, nails, shoes, dress and added a car to make her matric ball special,” he tells the Daily Voice.
Bryon fetched Siwaphiwe from the family’s shack around 8am on Wednesday to start the make-over.
DOLLED UP: Siwaphiwe’s make-up is done by Louis Ernest. Photo: Tracey Adams/ ANA Pictures
A shy Siwaphiwe explains her single mom is unemployed and has to care of her and her little brother.
The teen walks to and from school daily - taking two hours there and back - because there is no money for transport.
Bryon also hired a white VW Scirocco to chauffeur the matriculant to all her appointments and to take her to the ball at the Ottery Multi Purpose Hall.
Her mother, Siphokazi, was in tears when she saw Siwaphiwe in her white, silver and black outfit, with her new hairdo and make-up.
The teen was ecstatic.
“I’m so happy for this, I already prepared myself not to go to the matric ball because I know we can’t afford these things.
“I’m grateful to everyone who helped me achieve this day.”
She hopes to study Business Law next year. “I have applied at the universities of Cape Town and Johannesburg, but I haven’t gotten responses yet.”