GQEBERHA – In a quiet but determined effort to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children, a 17-year-old Framesby High School learner is using his own story of loss and resilience to bring hope to children battling cancer.
Grade 11 learner, Kyle Pretorius, has launched Project Golden Ribbon, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and support for children affected by cancer through the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation.
The CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation has formally endorsed the initiative.
“We are extremely grateful to Kyle, his school, family and community for supporting our work and fully endorse his activities,” said CHOC Eastern Cape Regional Manager Juliet Houghton.
She said the campaign would help raise awareness of childhood cancer while supporting services such as accommodation, transport, nutritional and emotional care provided to children and their families at no cost.
Family tragedy and resilience
In 2013, when he was five, Kyle lost his father Willem Pretorius, a police sergeant stationed at Gelvandale SAPS. His death sent shockwaves through the community.
“It was a normal day. He had just finished his night shift and was supposed to fetch Kyle from crèche and take him to the movies,” his mother, Zonda Pretorius, shared with the PE Express.
“He told me he was going to the gym first. When the school called to say Kyle had not been fetched, I knew something was wrong.” She said repeated calls went unanswered.
“He was someone who always answered his phone. I kept trying, but there was no response,” she said. A missing persons report was opened as concern grew.
“Later that night, officers came to the house. His vehicle had been found in a bushy area between Motherwell and Uitenhage. He had been shot,” she said.
The case has never been solved. Despite the loss, she believes the experience shaped her son’s resilience.
“My son had to overcome a lot at a very young age, but he never gave up. He is strong, kind-hearted and determined to make a difference.”
Kyle has since developed into a high-achieving learner, excelling academically with a particular strength in Engineering Graphics and Design.
He is also an active member of his school’s Land Service organisation, a youth programme focused on leadership and community involvement.
Since joining Grade 8 in 2023, he has progressed into a leadership role and, in 2025, was appointed to the organisation’s management team. Earlier this year, he received honours for leadership, dedication and service.
“I wanted to do something meaningful with the opportunity I’ve been given,” he said. “Land Service is about helping your community. I want to give back and help children who are going through very difficult situations.”
Supporting children with cancer
His initiative focuses on supporting children diagnosed with cancer.
“We are collecting items like toiletries, food and clothing because these small things can make a big difference in a child’s daily life during treatment,” Kyle said. “It’s about showing them they are not alone.”
Houghton said community-driven initiatives are essential to sustaining CHOC’s work.
“We rely solely on the kindness of communities to fund our work,” she said, adding that donations would directly support children and teenagers with cancer and life-threatening blood disorders.
Physical donations will be collected and delivered through CHOC or dropped off at Framesby High School, with all contributions going directly to the organisation.
Community support and future plans
“My son’s heart is truly in this,” said Zonda. “He knows what it feels like to experience loss and he wants to use that understanding to help children who are suffering. Even if he can make a difference in one child’s life, it would mean everything.”
Kyle has also launched a Facebook page to share updates and encourage community involvement. He plans to expand awareness through public activations, including at shopping centres.
“This project is about more than donations,” he said. “It’s about kindness, compassion and bringing people together to support children facing one of the toughest challenges of their lives.”
For his mother, the initiative reflects a deeper purpose. “Kyle is my hero,” she said. “His story is one of pain, but also one of purpose. I believe it can inspire other young people to turn their struggles into something meaningful.”
For more information, Project Golden Ribbon can be found on Facebook.
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