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- Siya Kolisi was honored with an E! People’s Choice Award on Friday.
- ME! recognizes local charity work in Africa with a new award: African Pioneer of the Year.
- Siya is being honored for his extraordinary work off the sports field with the launch of the Kolisi Foundation earlier this year.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will be honored with the African Trailblazer of the Year award at the 2020 E! Awards chosen by the people.
For the first time in the history of the ceremony, E! will recognize local charity work in Africa with a new award: Fromrican pioneer of the year. Siya, who led the Springboks to victory at the Rugby World Cup in 2019, is being recognized for his extraordinary work off the sports field with the launch of the Kolisi Foundation earlier this year.
The Kolisi Foundation was established by Siya and his wife Rachel, who share the vision of changing the narrative for disadvantaged and vulnerable communities in South Africa, as well as helping victims of gender-based violence. The Foundation was months away from its official launch when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Realizing that people needed help more than ever, they immediately decided to jump in in March to try to alleviate extreme poverty, reach out to disadvantaged youth and promote equality.
Siya made history in 2018 when he was selected as the new captain of the Springboks, becoming the team’s first black test captain in its 127-year history. He was captain of the South African team at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Yokohama, Japan, defeating England in the final and becoming the first black captain of a World Cup winning team.
Upon receiving his award, the sports icon commented: “I am truly honored. There are people across the continent who are doing the most incredible work and being recognized as ‘African Pioneer of the Year’ is very humbling. During the confinement, I was able to see first hand the contributions people make to improving local communities, so I would like to dedicate this award to each of them. I am proud of what the Kolisi Foundation has been able to achieve in light of the global pandemic, but there much more to do. This is just the beginning. Thanks, E! “
Siya is not the only recognized African. Between October 1 and 23, fans voted in the 2020 African Social Star category, with Elsa Majimbo announced as the winner earlier this week..
The e! The People’s Choice Awards will air live from The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on Sunday, November 15, beginning with Live From The Red Carpet at 2:00 CAT and the ceremony itself at 4:00 CAT.
Both will be repeated throughout the following day on Monday, November 16, only on E! (Channel 124 of DStv).
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