The family of attempted ritual murder victim Fortune Khumalo of Jilongo village outside Malamulele received a new lease on life this week after generous donation was made by a well-known attorney and administrator of estates, Wisani Baloy of Wisani Baloyi Attorneys in Thohoyandou.

Baloyi initially intended transporting the mother and son to George Mukhari Hospital in Tshwane for the boy’s check-up, providing them with hotel accommodation while they were waiting to see the doctor, supplying transport to the hospital from the hotel and some pocket money during their stay there.

All this changed after the Department of Health claimed responsibility to transport the mother and son to the hospital, but this did not dampen Baloyi’s spirit, who followed the two to Malamulele Hospital where they were waiting for an ambulance to take them to George Mukhari Hospital, and gave them an amount of R1 500 as pocket money and also pledged to support the family to the tune of R500 per month for the next six months, which will be reviewed on the basis of the response to the trust fund.

Fortune, an eight-year-old boy, fell victim to an alleged muti merchant, who sliced off his genitals late in August. A suspect, Lucky Simango, has been arrested in connection with the case and has already appeared in court and is scheduled to appear again on November 29. He took everyone by surprise when he confessed that he had been sent by his father, who promised him lots of money for the body parts.

During the presentation, Baloyi said the gesture comes out of his love for people, more especially children, who are the future of the country. He said Fortune’s future has been compromised but this did not mean that people should just sit down and fold their arms. "If we can also stand up and do something. This boy’s future could change for the better and he will be a responsible member of a society", he said. "I am a devout member of the church and I derive no pleasure from seeing less fortunate people suffer", he said.

Baloyi said he was very touched when he read about the family’s plight in the Mirror. "My heart bled when I read that a victim is a very bright boy whose future lead as bright and I decided to help," he said. Baloyi said the gesture does not mean that he has loads of cash but the least he could do will add a smile to the family and help them live normal life. He said his donation was so small that he would have kept it to himself and the family, but decided to publicize it as a challenge to other blessed South Africans who own businesses and hold better paying jobs than he.

Baloyi said the struggle to liberate the country was over but a new struggle had just started and has taken a new dimension, fighting poverty and unemployment. Baloyi said he will use his position to influence his colleagues in the legal profession, his church and other businesses to help the family.

An excited Ms Nancy Siweya, mother of the young boy, was short of words to express her joy. "Thank you, Mirror, thank you for publicizing our plight." She said the donation came as a great relief to the family. "Oh, God is great, He cares about the weak and the vulnerable," she said. She said it was hard to find a person like Baloyi. "At this time when everyone is thinking of himself, a man just appeared from nowhere for us; we are greatly humbled," she said. She said the money would be put to good use and help the family to lead normal lives.

The principal of the Shigombe Primary School, Mr Risimati Hlungwani, where Fortune is a learner, and a trustee of the trust said doctors have made it clear that the boy will have to get specialized surgery that could cost around R100 000, which is a far cry to what the fund has now. He said they have so for a managed to collect about R10 000, of which half has already been used by the family. He urged all people to help the indigent family.

Donations can be deposited into the Fortune Khumalo Family Fund: Acc no: 62151417360, Bank: FNB Balamulele