​Velly Matsebatlela’s life work is about honouring one of the late Nelson Mandela’s adages: “Never stop doing little things for those less privileged than you are. Those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts”.

Matsebatlela, who joined the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day initiative as a KnitWit in 2016, eats, sleeps, and breathes the selfless project.

“67 Blankets is one of the most amazing projects to be a part of. It embodies doing your bit and giving to those in need without wanting anything in return,” she says.

Matsebatlela started out as a teacher at a farm school in Tzaneen, where she spent three years. She later relocated to Soweto and taught home economics for 23 years before being promoted to Deputy Principal of Diepsloot Primary School in 2001.

She was appointed principal of Cosmo City Secondary School in 2008, a position she held until January 2018, when she retired. In total, she has worked in the education space for about 45 years.

Her involvement in 67 Blankets started shortly after Carolyn Steyn, the founder of 67 Blankets, and her sisters visited Diepsloot in 2016, where Matsebatlela was teaching.

“I remember it like it was yesterday, Mrs Steyn came to deliver blankets to the school. I was so inspired that I decided to join as a KnitWit to do my part in giving back to the community,” she says.

Although she had already been recruited, upon retiring, Matsebatlela became a full-time KnitWit.

KnitWits are a group of people who are bonded together in dedicating their time to knitting blankets for the remarkable 67 Blankets project for Nelson Mandela Day.

“KnitWits are not just in South Africa but all around the world. We are a snowballing family, stitching together love thread by thread,” she says.

Matsebatlela highlights that the project has knitted over 100 thousand blankets across the globe. She has lost count of how many she has personally knitted, but the number stands at well over 500.

The former school principal is a well-known KnitWit. She is an official ambassador of the project and obtained this title through her commitment and passion over the years.

Matsebatlela visits diverse groups of people weekly to join in knitting and even teaches newcomers how to knit blankets. On Mondays, there is a group she visits in Golden Harvest Village in Soweto, and on Tuesdays, she goes to Northcliff’s the Willows, where another KnitWit group meets in the afternoons.

“I even find myself in malls teaching shoppers who are interested how to knit and crochet. I genuinely believe that becoming a KnitWit and being part of this project is an ancestral calling,” she says.

Matsebatlela’s dad worked for Douw Steyn many years ago, building the Saxon World Hotel. She would walk by to say hi to her dad, not knowing one day she would be working with the wife of her father’s former employer.

“When my dad worked for Mr Steyn, he would give employees money for their children to go to school, and that is what helped me get through university. It was destiny for me to work with Mrs Steyn. It’s like a full circle,” she says.

Matsebatlela says this year, the KnitWits aim to crochet 670 blankets before Mandela Day under the theme “Local Blanket is Lekker”.

“I will continue to motivate and encourage others to join the 67 Blankets project. It’s really a homely organisation to belong to. You immediately love the people you meet and love being able to help share warmth with those who need a blanket or even a piece of love because that’s what our blankets can do,” she says.

“There are KnitWits just about everywhere. There is a group near you waiting to welcome you. Join us and spread the love.”