Ronwen Williams Foundation focuses on shaping brighter futures for Gqeberha children

By Velile Mnyandu
1st May 2026

Bafana Bafana captain and Mamelodi Sundowns number one goalkeeper Ronwen Williams yesterday successfully launched the Ronwen 30 Foundation’s (R30F) Edu-Care programme with the focus on promoting schools football and life skills in his community of Gelvandale in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.

The R30F Edu-Care programme is rolling out a tournament focused on four schools, namely, Fontein Full Service School, Gelvan Park, Helenvale, and the primary school Ronwen attended—Gelvandale Primary. These schools will focus on a weekly programme (three days), focused on boys and girls between the ages of nine and 13. He has more on this latest initiative.

"Ja, this is an exciting time for me and for the foundation. This is a vision that I have had for many years, and today that vision became a reality. It is a goosebump moment; I am just excited," said Williams.

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"The Ronwen30 Foundation Edu-Care program officially launches today. It's a program not only focused on unearthing the next soccer star from the Gelvendale community, but our focus is also on life skills and the day-to-day challenges that we face in our community."

"We just want to help and teach the kids to be confident and to have that sense of belief that they can do wonders."

William’s R30 Foundation follows hot on the heels of similar Foundations by Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, whose township is just a stone’s throw away from Gelvandale in Zwide, Gqeberha, and Proteas captain Temba Bavuma’s Foundation. The 34-year-old reveals that his foundation will also be focused on life skills and leadership qualities of the kids from the area.

Williams, who left his home in Gqeberha at the age of 12 to pursue a footballing career at the now-defunct SuperSport United, says he owes a lot of his success to his upbringing in Gelvandale. He says, now is the opportune time for him to give back to his community.

Gelvandale, like many townships around the country, is fighting the scourge of drugs and alcohol in the communities, targeted at the youth of South Africa. As he leads Bafana Bafana to their fourth FIFA World Cup appearance in Mexico, the US and Canada next month, Williams sees the need to lead by example, starting in his own community.