The ailing Ndivho Nephawe (6), who made headlines last month, has lost the tough battle against a mysterious disease. The brave boy from Vhuruvhuri died at Donald Fraser Hospital last Wednesday.

Many people were shocked to receive the news, as the boy was showing some improvement. After publishing his plight in Mirror, sympathetic community members called to offer their support and material support to the boy. Born healthy and bouncy and full of dreams, the little boy’s wishes were crushed when he was attacked by a mysterious disease earlier this year. Troubles started when he developed a small pimple on his right thigh. The pimple grew bigger and bigger, making it impossible for him to play, sleep or go to school. His once healthy body had been reduced into a shadow of his former self as he became leaner day by day. He had also developed lumps on his head, which made it shapeless. The sores in his mouth made his life a misery. The boy had been taken to different clinics, hospitals and traditional healers, but his troubles continued endlessly.

The little boy’s unemployed grandmother, Joyce Nephawe, said it was heartbreaking to lose Ndivho, because the family expected him to grow up and enjoy the future like other children. She sobbed: "We have done our best to restore his health, but God has done His will. We would like to thank all the people who have been on our side when the little boy was still alive. We will never forget to acknowledge the role played by Mirror newspaper for publishing the plight of our boy. Many people knew about his condition and we received assistance daily. We are very disturbed and it is very difficult for us to accept what happened. We only need your prayers to strengthen us during these trying times."

Mr Marius van Staden, who recently donated food supplements worth more than R700 to the boy after reading his story, was shocked to receive the bad news. "I was making arrangements with the family to visit them to donate medication to the boy, but I was greeted with the sad news. It is very painful because we had many plans for the boy, but there is nothing we can do, because God has done His will."

Ndivho will be buried at Vhurivhuri tomorrow (Saturday) morning.