After a long wait, the gift of mobility has arrived for Shaka’s Head schoolgirl Nondumiso Khuzwayo.

Khuzwayo lost her right leg in a train accident in 2017 and after a 3 month hospital stay, has had to walk on crutches for the past 3 years.

This meant it took her an hour every morning and afternoon to get to the taxi collection point outside Shaka’s Head.

Khuzwayo, now 19, is finishing her final year of school at Groutville High School after she had to repeat Grade 8 following the accident.

“I still want to be a social worker and I have worked hard to finish my schooling, this leg will make traveling for work so much easier,” she said.

Shaka’s Head ward committee member, Goodman Mdletshe, appealed to the Ballito Lions club, which raised the R60 000 needed for the prosthetic.

The donations were raised from the North Coast community and many people, businesses and charity organisations are responsible for Khuzwayo’s new independence.

“We wanted to get the leg to her much sooner but we had to be mindful of Covid-19 precautions and we are so happy to finally deliver,” said Ballito Lions president Paul Naidoo.

The Ballito Lions is a chapter of the internationally recognised Lions organisation which has 1.4 million members worldwide.

The Ballito chapter has been established in the community for more than 30 years and has consistently supported worthwhile causes in the surrounding areas.

Aside from the fundraising of Khuzwayo’s new prosthetic, the Lions built the playground at Sizani School in 2017, giving the 700 – now more than 1 000 – students an area to exercise and relax.

KwaDukuza mayor Dolly Govender praised the work of the Ballito Lions.

“We wholeheartedly support the initiatives that the Lions consistently undertake in KwaDukuza.

“The club has been a positive force for change in our community and we look forward to seeing their continued good work in the future,” said Govender.

The prosthetic was made by the team at Kurt Bartsch, medical orthotist and prosthetist, who did the work at cost.

All of the parts had to be specially designed and manufactured in Germany.

“The prosthetic is made of moldable silicone so that it is a much more comfortable fit and the adjustment period is shorter,” said Bartsch.

The new leg is also designed so that the knee bends intuitively when Khuzwayo steps so that it is not rigid and she has relative freedom of movement.

She is still reliant on crutches for the time being, but Bartsch is confident that proper exercise and rehab techniques will have her walking crutch free within months.

“It is heavier than I thought it would be but I am sure it will become easier to use when I get used to it.

“I am so thankful to everyone who helped me get this new leg, it is a blessing from God,” said Khuzwayo.