Clipper Venture stands firm against false promises and shattered dreams

Clipper Ventures has been left disheartened and highly disappointed by the missed opportunities that have come as a consequence of the Bekezela Community Foundation (BCF) which has consistently failed on its partnership agreement with the Clipper Race.

BCF approached the Clipper Race in 2021, expressing a strong interest in partnering with the global yacht race after seeing the success the event had with previous partnerships in South Africa such as the ‘Dare To Lead initiative’ and the ‘Sail Africa programme’. These collaborations had seen sailing schools and life-changing opportunities for underprivileged children in local communities.  

TRANSFORM RICHARDS BAY THROUGH CREATING AN IMPROVED COMMUNITY

Inkosi Thandisizwe Siyabonga Mpungose, who heads up the Bekezela Community Foundation and focuses on empowering underprivileged communities, had impressed Clipper Ventures with his plans to transform Richards Bay in South Africa through creating an improved community, with hotels, yachting and sailing schools.  

Bekezela Community Foundation signed with the Clipper Race on a two-race partnership deal which included delivering a unique branded boat that was to sail around the world. However, once everything had been put in place for the Clipper 2023-24 Race team entry, the Team and Host Partner went quiet. Bekezela Community Foundation revoked its part of the deal as it made none of the agreed payments outlined in the agreement. The plans for the partnership were therefore left incomplete.  

In a statement released, CEO and Co-Founder of Clipper Ventures, William Ward OBE said: “We were fully on board with Inkosi Thandisizwe Siyabonga Mpungose and Bekezela Community Foundation’s vision. The Clipper Race prides itself on the opportunity it can offer individuals and communities around the world. Its support of the Sail Africa programme and Dare To Lead initiatives are just two examples of the partnership successes our event has had within South Africa.  

He continues to say “Mr Mpungose has failed to financially contribute in any way toward the partnership he initiated. For almost two years, Clipper Ventures has been promised it will receive the payments for the partnership it has delivered on in terms of the signed agreement. However, we are still yet to see any kind of payment. This can only lead me to believe that the Clipper Race has been used as a platform to push BCF’s own business agenda, with little consideration for the damage it has caused in its wake.

CLIPPER VENTURES STRONG STANCE AGAINST FALSE PROMISES

Clipper Ventures takes a strong stance against false promises coming from Mr Mpungoseb and BCF as many kids within the Richards Bay area had an opportunity to see that there is more to life and that they can achieve anything.

William Ward OBE continues to say “It saddens me that it is the community in South Africa that is being hurt by this. Mr Mpungose’s plans, with the support from its partnership with the Clipper Race, would have brought significant socio-economic impact to a currently deprived area of South Africa. However, because of the false promises that have been made, we have not been able to fulfil that.”  

As Clipper Ventures, we would like to ensure that no other organizations or company falls victim to Mr Mpungose or to Bekezela Community Foundation’s empty promises or gets put into a challenging position financially like we were as Clipper Ventures. We will fight and speak out for those who have already suffered the consequences of Mr Mpungose’s lies and false promises.

For media enquiries, contact, Cliff Demas at 0679561549 and Clifford@capepulpit.co.za.