Former Springbok captain Bobby was capped 34 times by his country, and is seen as a golden boy of SA rugby. He was schooled at Hilton College in Natal and was later selected as captain of the under-19 and under-21 teams for South Africa.

Bobby has also launched his own foundation called Bobsforgood. The bobsforgood foundation creates hope, fosters pride and ensures dignity by providing free school shoes to impoverished children.

Who was your mentor growing up and in what regard did they motivate you?

My coach, Alan Solomans, showed us focus, determination and helped cultivate passion.

What role does mentorship play in our community?

It’s a huge benefit, as it gives an example of where to go with your passion and focus.

How did you come up with the concept for bobsforgood and the walk
this way campaign?

As a father of 2, I can’t turn a blind eye to the plight of 7 millions kids who have no school shoes.

We developed the bobsforgood foundation which fits and distributes school shoes to as many underprivileged children as possible, helping them take ownership of their first pair of school shoes and, with it, the rest of their lives. The Walk this way campaign was a way to raise awareness around this issue and funds for the foundation.

Tell us more about your involvement community work and working with the youth.
My involvement is mainly with the bobsforgood foundation- feet measuring, school shoe drops and then the various community activities surrounding these events.

What do you think is the importance of nation-building in our
country today?
There is great importance. I believe that we uplift so many lives just through giving shoes  and I’m sure one of our future leaders could very well be one of the beneficiaries. Hope, pride and dignity are elements of self awareness and belief that is so evident in leaders today and in history.

What motivates you to do what you do?
The fact that I can make a difference in South Africa, and so can everyone else – by taking a simple step in the right direction.

On your journey thus far, you have taken very specific routes to cultivate and reach success. What practical advice can you offer young people? I’m certainly still continuing my journey but I read and learn from great people, never stop looking for examples and leaders that are changing the world for the better- many different leaders and doers out there, each providing a different offering in reaching success.

Name a goal that you still want to fulfil?
Well with bobsforgood, I would like to see 1 million shoes been given away by our foundation. We may not solve all our country’s problems, but we can make a difference in our own capacity.