In 2014, Kitso Mokolometsa from Potchefstroom was fitted with his first set of bilateral sports prostheses, also known as running blades, through intervention from the Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund.

The then Grade 1 learner was born with a congenital condition known as hemi-melia, the same condition suffered by South African Paralympian Ntando Mahlangu, who Kitso cites as his role-model. The condition resulted in both Kitso’s legs being amputated at a very young age.

Even though Kitso was previously fitted with prostheses, he had to get along on his stumps for an extended period of time when he outgrew his previous state-subsidised set.

Casper Schutte; a former Para athlete who represented South Africa at the 2012 London Paralympic Games and also hails from Potchefstroom; decided to get involved when he a saw an article about Kitso’s situation in community press.

Once fitted with his new quality prostheses, it took Kitso only minutes to get the hang of his new-found mobility in what he calls “the best gift ever”.

Kitso is making good progress. He started high school in 2021 at Pretoria Boys High School with an educational bursary facilitated by the Jumping Kids charity. That same year, he made his Para athletics debut at the 2021 Toyota SASAPD National Championships and has been representing Gauteng Province at the annual event ever since.

HIGHLIGHTS since becoming a Jumping Kids beneficiary…

• Won bronze for Gauteng in the men under-20 T61 long jump at the Bloemfontein 2024 Toyota SASAPD National Championships where he placed 4th in 200m and 5th in the 100m combined class races.
• Won silver for Gauteng Province and set a T61 200m South African record in Men’s U-17 200m (00:38.03) final at the 2023 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Won silver for Gauteng Province and set a T61 South African record in Men’s U-17 long jump (2.93m) final at the 2023 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Won silver for Gauteng Province in the Men’s U/17 100m final at the 2023 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Sixth in the Long Jump U 17 Men’s T13/37-63 final at the 2022 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Germiston, South Africa.
• Fourth in the 100m U 17 Men’s T13/44-61 final at the 2022 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Germiston, South Africa.
• Awarded the Pretoria Boys High School Rissik House Guts Trophy for showing exceptional courage and resilience in dealing with fear and adversity in 2021.
• Set a provisional Long Jump Boys under-17 South African record in his debut performance at the 2021 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Gqeberha, South Africa.