A disabled man could not stop smiling after he was presented with an electric, motorized wheelchair worth R20 000.

Mr Lazarus Matodzi (39) received the gift of a lifetime from the prominent Patel business family who own Spares City, Chatz Cellular, Compucity and Mbeu Bookshop in Thohoyandou.

Matodzi, who stays at Thohoyandou Block G, received the wheelchair from Zubeir Patel on Wednesday last week. Zubeir’s father, Mr Abdullah Patel, said there was a need for businesspeople to think of those who cannot do things for themselves. "This is a way of ploughing back into the community because they have been supporting our business through thick and thin. The government alone cannot win the war against poverty without the involvement of the business sector."

Abdullah said he was touched by the plight of the disabled man as he did not have a proper wheelchair. "He had an old, ordinary wheelchair which was no longer in good condition. He needed someone to push him whenever he wanted to go somewhere. This one will help him because he will operate it himself, without the assistance of anyone. The government preaches a better life for all and that is what we are practising as responsible businesspeople of this country."

He said he is hopeful that the donation will serve as a motivation to other businesspeople to follow suit. "Giving back to the community is the only gift that we can hand to our people. I hope others will come and join this venture because it is meant to uplift the standard of life for our people. By giving back to the community, we are planting a seed of hope which will germinate to a fully fledged fruit tree, thereby defeating poverty and starvation."

The beneficiary, Lazarus Matodzi, did not have enough words to thank the Patel family for their generosity. "It is hard to find good people like them in these days when everybody strives for himself. My old wheelchair gave me a tough time and life will now be easy as I will operate in myself. Thanks a million to the Patel family."