Zomnotho provides help for young amputee
At the time he was living with his mother in a rented one-room building.
It is often said that it is better to give than to receive.
With this in mind, and in the spirit of Youth Day, local non-profit organisation Zomnotho helped changed the life of Olwethu Madlala, aged 15, of KwaXaba in Gamalakhe.
Olwethu was the victim of a hit-and-run accident in 2015, when he was nine years old.
His injuries were severe and he had to have his left leg amputated. In addition, he was left with some level of cognitive impairment.
It was under its YOLO (You Only Live Once) outreach programme that targets the youth between 14 to 25 years old, that Zomnotho came across Olwethu.
At the time he was living with his mother in a rented one-room building.
After handing out the attendance register at one of the Zomnotho sessions, one of the mentors noticed that the boy could not write.
Zomnotho has organised that the family now receives a grant and is dependent on it as there is no one in the immediate family that is employed.
Chairperson Nqobile Cele said Zomnotho is also following up with the Road Accident Fund.
“Nothing has been paid since 2015,” she said.
“We thought we could donate food essentials, new clothes, a bed and bedding, as well as crutches, which is just a short term response,” she added.
The donated items also included new shoes and clothes for Olwethu’s mother, Zandile.
“I’m just taken back by all that’s happened and am extremely grateful that Zomnotho has come out today in numbers to help us. I have no words to express how happy I am today,” she said.
Olwethu could barely contain his delight during the visit and expressed his gratitude.
“Thank you to everyone. I feel very happy and it gives me hope that things will get better,” he said.
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