Orange Botswana has partnered with the Letsile Tebogo Charitable Foundation, becoming one of the first major corporate supporters of the Olympic champion’s initiative to raise cancer awareness and improve support for survivors and their families.
The partnership was announced at the official launch of the Foundation, which was established by Olympic gold medallist Letsile Tebogo in memory of his mother, who died in May 2024 after a nine-year battle with cancer.
Speaking at the launch, Orange Botswana Acting Chief Executive Officer Gobe Mbayi said the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to using its corporate influence to create social impact beyond its commercial operations.
“This morning is about much more than the launch of a charity. It is about purpose. It is about courage. And it is about choosing to use success not only as a measure of personal achievement, but as a platform to uplift others,” Mbayi said.
He said Orange would work alongside the Foundation to support cancer awareness campaigns, encourage early detection and help strengthen support systems for survivors and their families.
“We are not simply supporting an event. We are supporting a vision,” he said.
Mbayi said the company believes businesses have a responsibility to contribute to social development, adding that its partnership with Tebogo is built on shared values of excellence, resilience, integrity and service to communities.
The Foundation was inspired by Tebogo’s family’s experience caring for his mother throughout her illness.
Speaking on his behalf, Ano Tebogo described the organisation as a tribute to her mother’s legacy and a response to the challenges faced by cancer patients and their families.
“For nine years, cancer became part of our everyday life. Hospitals became our second home. Medical appointments filled our calendars. Medication became routine. Hope and heartbreak became constant companions,” she said.
She said the experience convinced the family that many cancer survivors continue to need emotional, psychological and financial support long after treatment ends.
“The Letsile Tebogo Charitable Foundation was not established simply to become another charitable organisation. It was born from a conviction that no cancer survivor should ever feel forgotten once treatment ends,” she said.
The Foundation will focus on psychosocial counselling, survivor support groups, awareness campaigns, early detection initiatives, skills development and partnerships aimed at improving the quality of life of people affected by cancer.
Its first major national programme will be a Cancer Symposium scheduled for November 2026, bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, survivors, caregivers, corporate leaders and community organisations to discuss ways of strengthening cancer care and support services in Botswana.
Mbayi called on other organisations to join the initiative, saying addressing the growing burden of cancer requires collaboration between the private sector, government, civil society and communities.
“Supporting this Foundation is not the responsibility of one individual or one organisation. It is an opportunity for all of us,” he said.
As the Foundation begins its work, Orange Botswana’s support signals growing private-sector involvement in tackling one of the country’s most pressing public health challenges while helping transform Tebogo’s personal loss into a national platform for cancer awareness and survivor support.
