By: Natasha Archary

Siya and Rachel Kolisi, through their foundation, have helped a wrongfully imprisoned, homeless Cape Town teenager.
Sihle, a 19-year old, served 8-months in prison before his innocence was proven after CCTV footage showed he did not commit the crime he was accused of.
Unfortunately, whilst in prison the teen’s mother passed away and Sihle was left homeless.
He slept on the streets in front of a police station, in the hopes that he would be safe, after a Tableview homeless shelter turned him away after 3-months.
Reaching out to the Kolisi Foundation, Sihle is finally receiving the help he needs to turn his life around.
Inspired by a talk Siya Kolisi gave on a visit to the prison the young man served time at, Sihle now has a shelter he can call home and has enrolled to complete his matric.
The Kolisi Foundation has also started a crowdfunding campaign for Sihle to cover his basic costs of living, such as food, transport and toiletries.
Sihle also wishes to follow his dreams and is taking computer skills development courses.
So far the Kolisi Foundation has managed to raise R33 000 towards Sihle’s funds, from a target of R150 000.
According to 2OceansVibe, Rachel Kolisi personally contacted Sihle, staying true to her foundation’s motto to “Remember the one, one by one.”
“I’ve come across so few people that are this resilient and so few people who have overcome what he has overcome.
I think it’s important for all of us as South Africans to realize that this is the state of our nation, and this is the state that people in our country are living in.
Sihle’s story is so important because it’s not just his story, it’s so many other people’s stories in our country.”
Rachel Kolisi, on the Kolisi Foundation stepping in to help a wrongfully imprisoned Cape Town teenager
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