Couple step in to offer burn victim schooling
HEARTS have gone out to a threeyear-old Port Elizabeth boy who was scalded with boiling water – allegedly by a class teacher – and he will be at a new school next week thanks to a Good Samaritan couple.
An anonymous businessman and his wife saw the report about the child’s serious injury in The Herald earlier this week and decided to enrol him at their own pre-school in Sydenham and provide him with a uniform, meals and transport.
The boiling water melted the top layer of skin on Siya Tyika’s feet and he also developed blisters on the sides of his feet.
His story touched the hearts of many, including the owners of the pre-school who contacted The Herald wanting to get in touch with the parents of the injured child.
Siya’s feet were allegedly burnt deliberately by his teacher as a form of punishment for soiling his pants, but the school insists it was an accident.
Siphokazi Dlaku, a teacher at Zwide Pre-Primary School, was arrested last week on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The 26-year-old tea- cher appeared in the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court where she was released on warning.
The Good Samaritan businessman and his wife – who did not want to be named “because we are not seeking publicity, but doing charity work” – offered to pay for Siya’s tuition, school uniform, meals and to transport the boy to and from school to his Zwide home at no cost.
“I read the story and the school principal was nonchalant, giving the grandmother R4 to buy chips for the little boy. This is a child of three years. Nobody can do such a thing to a child.
“We sit with an opportunity here and we want to give Siya a chance in life to make a difference. One day he will say this is the school I went to,” the busi- nessman said. The 35-year-old businessman, who is involved in community projects, said everyone possessed the ability to act humanely and South Africans should know better.
“One cannot get anywhere without being given the opportunity. We want kids to grow up in a better, good environment. We can change generations. I am very passionate about preschool,” he said.
When contacted with the good news, an overwhelmed Babalwa Tyika, 29, Siya’s mother, could not contain her excitement, saying it was unexpected.
“It shows there are still good people around. I am so happy and do not know what to say,” Tyika said.
She was speaking after returning from Dora Nginza Hospital to have Siya’s bandages changed.
She said the appointment for her son’s introduction to his new school was scheduled for today and he was due to be in class on Monday.