American R&B singer Tevin Campbell visited the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital on Monday July 29 to share his 67 minutes for Mandela Day.
The 42-year-old artist from New York performed at GrandWest on Saturday and will give one more show in Pretoria tomorrow before heading home.
Mr Campbell rose to fame in the early 90s for his award-winning albums, I’m Ready and T.E.V.I.N. His biggest hits include the songs, I’m Ready and Can We Talk.
“It is very important to pay homage to a man who sacrificed so much for the betterment of his people,” he said.
Mr Campbell took a tour of the hospital, played games with the children and took pictures with staff before giving an interview on the hospital’s RX radio station.
The hospital’s manager of medical services, Dr Anita Parbhoo says it’s wonderful when a celebrity takes time to visit the hospital.
“He seems very interested in the services we provide for children and he is also keen to hear about our RX radio, which is our children’s radio station by children for children and his visit is also a
morale booster for the staff,” she said.
Nokuthulathuli Bonga, corporate fundraising manager of The Children’s Hospital Trust, says Mr Campbell’s visit was inspiring.
“The hospital is a monument that holds the hope, courage and strength of all the children. To get musicians like Tevin is amazing and we hope he can assist the trust with spreading the word when he goes back to America,” she said.
“Now that I am aware of what the children’s hospital does, I will raise awareness, through social media, it’s a beautiful thing that they do here,” said Tevin, who said he enjoyed his visit to the city.
“Cape Town is beautiful, I think if I should retire I should buy property here, I feel the love from the people here,” he said.