Cape Town - After having to leave school 30 years ago due to unforeseen circumstances and challenges, Candice van Der Rheede, who heads the Western Cape Missing Persons Unit, can finally put on her dress and heels to attend her matric ball.
The 48-year-old from Delft recently completed her matric after attending night school, acing the six subjects she studied very hard for. She can now end off her matric year in a true fairy-tale style.
Van Der Rheede, who faced challenges of being homeless, enduring sexual and physical abuse from a young age, and falling critically sick due to a string of illnesses, said she felt like she was walking on cloud nine when her friends informed her that they were planning the ultimate matric ball.
“My members said Madam C … no, no, no, this is a very huge thing, we need to celebrate it, this was now after I told them that I don’t want to do a matric ball because I can put the money into something bigger for the community.
“I basically couldn’t say no, because this was something they wanted to do for me.”
The grandmother of six and mother of four, jokes and says she will be having more than one partner and will be dropped off by her husband in their “white car”.
“I will have a dress, because they told me to look stunning, I want to look stunning, everyone must look stunning.
“I won’t have one partner though; everyone will be my partner on the night, everyone who ever stood behind me, everyone who ever offered me words of encouragement, who was there during my late night studying, I want everyone to be part of this very special moment.”
Western Cape Missing Persons Unit liaison officer and co-director, Shihaam Davids, said it took a lot of effort to get Van der Rheede to agree.
“Candice was being Candice and didn’t want to be in the limelight, she appreciated her achievement, but she wanted to take what she had for community work again.
“We said no, this is her achievement and we are so proud of her, she needs to be celebrated, all the things she went through in her life, she deserves this.
“The night will be all about her! We all going to dress up, we are all going look smart, but it’s about her, she will be the star.”
The organisation will be coming through as Van Der Rheede’s own fairy godmothers, organising all the bits and bobs for the evening. “We got connections to do her nails, hair and her make-up, we want her to feel special and hopefully this can inspire more women to do the same, and become empowered.”
Cape Argus