Girls don dream dresses to dance

THE matric dance is an important event for any girl in her final year at high school – and at Ithembelihle Comprehensive School it is a night most of the Grade 12 girls dream about throughout their high school careers.

Four girls from the New Brighton-based school could not afford to buy or hire dresses for their special evening.

But Blushing Bride Design's owner, Kelly Cruickshank, made it possible for Ayola Ketye, Andiswa Zingela, Lulama Magadla and Mandisa Pandle to attend their farewell last week at the Summerstrand Inn.

"It was an awesome experience going [there wearing] such a stunning dress," Magadla said.

"I was so excited to hear that I could go to the farewell and I could choose my own dress.

"I wore a blue dress that complimented my skin colour. I can't explain how I felt.

"I won't forget [the experience]. I want to say thanks to Kelly and Blushing Brides."

Zingela, who stays in New Brighton, lost both her parents seven years ago and now lives with her grandmother, aunt, three uncles and five cousins.

Ketye said she could not afford to buy herself a dress because both her parents were unemployed.

Pandle was relying on her sister's Unemployment Insurance Fund payout from when she was on maternity leave to cover the expense of getting a dress to the dance.

But due to administrative errors in the labour department, the payment was delayed.

Cruickshank was approached by a teacher at the school and they started a competition for the girls to submit letters explaining why they believed they should win a sponsored dress by Blushing Bride Designs.

Cruickshank said when she read the letters she was unable to choose just one winner and decided to sponsor them all.