Readers help Songezo in his new home
“TV, TV, TV mama, mama TV, TV.” Those were the words of an excited 3-year-old Songezo Mbambo when a television set was delivered to his home in rural Mzimkhulu on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast.
The bubbly boy, whose plight touched Sunday Tribune readers, was reacting to furniture being delivered to his house this week – a fridge, a stove, a wall unit, two beds, chairs and a table just about makes their home complete.
This newspaper reported his story. His fingers and toes had to be amputated when gangrene set in.
Songezo, who was then six months old, suffered acute gastroenteritis. Since it was not treated in time, it reduced the blood flow and caused hypovolemic shock.
Songezo was in high spirits, laughing, singing and dancing when the Sunday Tribune team visited on Tuesday, a far cry from the situation he and his family were in three years ago when they lived in a dilapidated rondavel.
They now live in a three-bedroom house built by the Mzimkhulu Municipality with the help of business people. His mother Khanyisile Mbambo, 31, has a job. And Songezo, who was in constant pain, is now a happy child, even though his fingers and toes are stubs.
“I never knew my child’s pain would change our lives for the better,” said Mbambo, tears streaming down her face. “My life changed for the bet- ter since the Sunday Tribune published my child’s story. We used to struggle. We did not have a house, but today I have a big house that is fully furnished and has electricity. I was offered an opportunity to do training and I became a security guard. I have an income.”
She said Songezo’s painful wounds had healed and he was growing like any normal child. “He is very playful. He is not even aware there is something different about him. I am grateful for all the help.
“I want my son to go to a school that will cater for his needs, I don’t want kids to discriminate against him. I want him to always be happy.”
Michelle McIntosh, a Sunday Tribune reader, has made it her life’s mission to help Songezo and his family. McIntosh, who lives in Durban, often makes the three-hour trip to visit the family to check on their well-being. She was also among the first who opened her purse to help.
“I have maintained contact with the family over the years and assisted where I could, with other readers, and will continue to do so. This is the result: the municipality has built the house and has connected the electricity. My role was to furnish the house.
“Through the readers, we set up a trust fund and the money was given to Songezo’s mom,” said McIntosh.
“I will not forget Linda and the late Ray Rethman who helped Songezo with laser treatment. He has come a long way from a little boy in constant pain and sleeping on a mat in a hut.”
Through the trust created by readers, Mbambo received R11 500 which she said she has saved for her son’s schooling.
uMzimkhulu head of department for community and social services, Kholeka Mbalo, thanked the newspaper and the community.