Support gives hope to victim left for dead on train tracks
The community came together to help a victim who was hit by a train in Mamelodi after an armed assault.
Through the kindness of the community, a local gardener once again has hope for the future after he lost an arm and a leg following a violent attack last month.
John Macuacua (36), a gardener and handyman from Mamelodi, was badly maimed on the train tracks after being attacked and robbed on October 19.
The details of exactly what happened after he was confronted by the robbers are sketchy as Macuacua is still suffering from severe mental trauma. It is believed he was forced to lie down on the tracks by his attackers and hit by the oncoming train – leading to severe injuries.
He suffered traumatic amputations of his right arm (above the elbow) and left leg (below the knee) and was left for dead.
The father of three children younger than10 years old and the sole breadwinner however, miraculously survived and was taken to Mamelodi Regional Hospital.
“I am grateful to be alive, but I was worried about how I was going to provide for my family,” said Macuacua, reflecting on the moment he was given the outcomes of his injuries by a doctor.
In the weeks after the attack, Macuacua underwent multiple surgeries on his arm and leg, but the dire reality of his situation quickly set in.
“I accepted that I will never be able to work again,” he said.
Now four weeks later, with the help of the community, local radio station GROOTfm 90.5, a specialist in prostheses, NPO Wheelchairs on the Run and SPAR, Macuacua has renewed hope for the future.
After the incident that left him unable to continue his physical labour, his employer Sunette Visser started a Backabuddy campaign to help the family gather enough resources while he recovered from his ordeal.
She also made several appeals for help for Macuacua to try and find a solution for his mobility challenges.
After hearing about his tragic predicament, GROOTfm invited him and Visser to their studio to try and assist him and his family. They not only wanted to create awareness but also inspire listeners with Macucua’s story of forgiveness, gratitude and joy despite this trying time.
And there was a surprise waiting for him at the GROOTfm studio in Pretoria east.
“As he was placed on a lengthy waiting list for mobility tools, we put in a request to Wheelchairs for a Run for a custom-made electrical wheelchair. It took his breath away as it was brought in by the team during the live on-air interview,” said Sonet Stofberg, head of public relations at the radio station.
“Because we knew that someday he would again want to return to a ‘normal’ life, we contacted Dr Jacques Terry, an orthotist and prosthetist. He shared with Macuacua that an arm and leg will be manufactured for him to help with the rehabilitation and ability to be fully functional once again.”
Realising the challenges that came with his immediate lack of income, GROOTfm also gifted him with R5 000, which was matched by SPAR North Rand.
Macuacua was completely overwhelmed by the kindness of the teams helping and assisting him to be mobile again. The funds raised gave him a chance to reimagine his future: he plans to start a chicken farming project, ensuring a sustainable income. “My wish now is to start farming with chickens,” he told listeners on air.
Visser expressed her heartfelt thanks to GROOTfm and the station’s partners and listeners who made such a life-changing contribution to Macuacua. “What a wonderful privilege to witness a smile such as John’s when he received the support and wheelchair. He did not stop smiling.”
Macuacua thanked all the people who contributed to changing his life. “I am so grateful to be able to move around and sit in the sun in my garden.”
Police were asked if any arrests have been made as yet, but no answers have been received by the time of publication.
– Click here on https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/hope-for-john if you want to support John and his family.
– Click here if you want to listen to the interview on GROOTfm 90.5:
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