Former Johannesburg mayor and ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has donated R200,000 to help ailing former Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba.
The donation comes as the football legend continues to battle serious health challenges, including prostate cancer and tuberculosis.
Shakes Mashaba’s family recently made a public appeal for help after revealing that the former national team coach was bedridden and facing mounting medical costs.
They also said he had lost his medical aid because he could no longer afford it.
Now, Herman Mashaba has stepped in with financial support through the newly established Shakes Mashaba Foundation.
A Visit That Touched Herman Mashaba
Herman Mashaba visited the Mashaba family home after hearing about the coach’s condition.
He said he was deeply moved by what he saw. The ActionSA leader said he had known Shakes Mashaba since the 1970s and respected the role he played in South African football.
He praised the former coach for making South Africans proud and giving the country hope through football.
According to Herman, seeing the football icon in such a difficult condition made him feel that he had to help.
He then pledged R200,000 in his personal capacity.
R200k Donation to the Foundation
The money will go to the Shakes Mashaba Foundation. Herman Mashaba said the donation was meant to ease the financial pressure on the family while the former Bafana coach focuses on recovery.
The family has been dealing with medical bills, specialised care, medication and other needs at home.
They have also asked for support in the form of medical supplies, groceries, hygiene products, a walker and home-care assistance.
For a family caring for a seriously ill loved one, those daily needs can quickly become overwhelming.
That is why the donation has been welcomed as an important lifeline.
Shakes Mashaba’s Family Asked for Help
The public appeal came from Shakes Mashaba’s family after his health struggles became too heavy to carry privately.
His daughter, Nonhlanhla Mashaba, previously spoke about the emotional and financial strain the family was facing.
She explained that the family had turned to public healthcare after the former coach’s medical aid was cancelled.
The appeal was not easy to make.
However, it opened the door for South Africans to see the difficult reality facing one of the country’s respected football figures.
Herman Mashaba also praised the family for having the courage to speak out. He said asking for help takes strength.
A Football Man Who Served South Africa
Shakes Mashaba is one of the most recognisable names in South African football.
He played for clubs including Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows before moving into coaching.
He later worked with several national teams, including South Africa’s junior sides and Bafana Bafana.
His coaching career made him a familiar figure to football fans across the country.
Many remember him for his passion, discipline and deep love for the game. He was not only a coach.
He was also a mentor to many players who passed through the national team structures. That is why his illness has touched many people in the football community.
South Africans Urged to Support
Herman Mashaba has urged South Africans to support the foundation.
He said health challenges can affect anyone, whether they have medical insurance or not. His message was simple.
People should contribute whatever they can. Even small donations can help when a family is dealing with serious illness and long-term care.
The appeal is not only about money. It is also about showing gratitude to a man who gave many years of his life to South African football.
A Painful Reminder About Medical Costs
Shakes Mashaba’s situation has also raised a painful issue. Many retired sports figures struggle financially after their active careers end.
Some are celebrated while they are working, but later face hardship when illness, age or unemployment arrives.
Medical costs can become impossible to manage. For former players and coaches, the transition after football can be difficult.
Fame does not always mean financial security. That is why support systems, foundations and public care remain important.
A Lifeline During a Difficult Time
The R200,000 donation will not erase the pain of illness. However, it gives the Mashaba family breathing room.
It also reminds South Africans that legends should not be forgotten when they are vulnerable.
Shakes Mashaba gave his life to football. Now, during one of the hardest battles of his life, people are being asked to stand with him.
Herman Mashaba’s donation is a powerful gesture. But the wider call is now on the country.
South Africans who remember Shakes Mashaba’s contribution to football are being encouraged to help in any way they can.
For the Mashaba family, every act of support matters.
For the football legend, it is a reminder that his work, his passion and his service to the nation have not been forgotten.