He grew up in the dusty streets of a rural Dzanani in the Nzhelele area. He saw his family assisting many in the community and taking care of the needy by helping them with their education.

To him, this became a way of life and became entrenched in him, so that he is now a living embodiment of this spirit of helpfulness. His upbringing and the poverty in his area made him more determined to help those in need.

Now a prosperous businessman in his own right, he has not forgotten what he was taught when he was still young, viz. to share the little bit that one has and to assist those in need, if possible. Mulatedzi Velaphi Nemafhohoni (33) became a helping hand this week to the two Ndou orphans of Tshifulanani-Mathule, who have been struggling for years with no one helping them.

He paid for the reconnection of their electricity, which has been cut off since May 2009. He paid their electricity bill of the last six months and paid for groceries that could see them through the last part of this year. In addition, he also gave the two R500 in cash that will assist them in fixing one of the sibling’s identity documents, which is said to have some problems. He also pledged to assist the two, depending on their needs and progress in their personal lives.

The orphans, Matodzi (22) and Humbulani (20), have been struggling since their parents died in 2000 and 2007 respectively.

For Nemafhohoni, of Immorial Building Construction, when a call came for assistance for the two orphans, it was just natural that he would help. “I do not wish to think of the pain of losing both parents, coupled with poverty at its worst. I pictured myself in their position and I decided at once to help them,” he said. Poverty is like a curse that degrades a person, and poor people can easily resort to unacceptable behaviour in an effort to address this problem. “I did not want these to bright kids to add to the ever increasing statistics of criminals who are forced in to crime by circumstances. I had to intervene for the sake of the future of these two innocent kids,” he said.

The local Mathule Sanco chairperson, Mr Khathutshelo Dali, said communities should assist each other. He said it was sad to see people throwing away food with neighbours going hungry. “Let us be human enough; we are all people and Africans are known for their ubuntu. We cannot pretend as if we see nothing while children suffer because they have lost their parents. Let us stand up and do something for the development of our community,” he said.