The mother of Tumelo Matsimela, who was beaten to a pulp and left for dead at the Oliver Tambo Centre in Wynberg, has expressed her gratitude for the outpouring support and comfort she has received from the people of Alexandra.
Ngwanaboroka Agnes Matsimela said she did not have enough words to express how she feels about the support. “I am so delighted and grateful for the outpouring support I have received from my community, including the gesture from the Grandfather of Alex, Linda Twala, for the donation of the wheelchair.”
“I will not be doing justice to my gratitude if I do not mention our local radio station as well, Alex FM, for the role it has played in the whole saga and in sourcing the wheelchair for Tumelo. May the Almighty bless you all,” she said.
She described the gesture of the wheelchair and the outpouring support from people of all walks of life in her community. She reinforces the ideals of Ubuntu as “We know it in the African community. Your son is my son, he is our son. I always thought I was all alone until this happened,” she said.
In response to the gratitude, Twala described himself as “a God-sent servant of the people. I am here to serve you and all of you. This boy could have easily been a [former President Nelson] Mandela of tomorrow.”
Twala’s only request to the family was that the wheelchair be handed back when it was no longer needed when the boy could once again walk on his two legs. “We need it back so we can give a helping hand to yet another person in need.”
Tumelo was severely beaten by a security guard with an iron rod, claiming to have mistaken him for a thief on 27 August when he came to the centre to fetch house keys. The guard is currently appearing at the Alexandra Magistrates’ court on charges of attempted murder.
