LIKE any boy his age, Solomzi Bodoza was excited at the prospect of going to initiation school.
The talented young soccer player had big dreams for the future. But today, the wheelchair-bound 21-year-old curses the rite.
Bodoza lost his left leg and his hands are deformed after an assault by his attendants at an initiation school in Libode in March 2010.
The psychological trauma was intense, even more so when the case against his assailants was struck off the roll.
“The justice system has failed me,” said Bodoza sitting in his wheelchair at his rented RDP home in Thabo Mbeki Township in Libode.
But there is renewed hope for Bodoza in the form of the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation (SKF), which is investing R600000 in helping him out.
“We are going to restore his life back to normal and enable him to walk again and restore his dignity and boost his esteem,” said the foundation’s chairman Sizwe Kupelo. “We will organise a bursary for him to study further.”
A private orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Avenah Magan, and a team of specialist medical practitioners have agreed to conduct reconstructive surgery on Bodoza’s hands and fit him with a prosthetic leg, as well as provide psychological counselling.
Kupelo heard about Bodoza’s plight from a community development worker and the foundation has also approached the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to reinstate the case.
NPA spokesman Luxolo Tyali said the accused would soon have their day in court to answer to attempted murder and kidnapping charges.
Although Bodoza now finds himself with physical and psychological scars he said he was happy when he left for the mountains.
Hardly two days into initiation school he received his first beating.
“The seven men forced me to smoke tobacco and I refused. They beat me up. I tried to smoke but choked. They became angry, labelling me a sissy, and said I must be taught a lesson to be a real man.
“They beat me with sticks, iron rods and fists, and kicked me until I lost consciousness. They broke my left leg in three places and injured both my hands,” he said.
They refused him proper medical attention for nine days.
“Nobody came to my rescue. I wanted to die. I had unbearable pains and my leg was getting rotten. They even tried to hang me but the rope broke.”
He said his last memory of the school was when his sister, Sibusiso arrived and called an ambulance. “I later woke up at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital. I was in a coma for 41 days.”
He spent eight months in hospital.
“This year I went back to school to achieve my dream of being a social worker,” he said.
Kupelo is impressed with Bodoza’s attitude towards education.
“I am very touched by his spirit of ‘never give up’ and bravery. Despite his injuries and trauma and two years out of school, he soldiered on to go back to school.
“He is good in maths and science. He is also conducting peer education,” said Kupelo.
Bodoza will undergo surgery as soon as he has finished writing exams.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “May God bless the foundation and all those assisting. This is amazing.” — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Wheelchair-bound pupil’s new hope
The talented young soccer player had big dreams for the future. But today, the wheelchair-bound 21-year-old curses the rite.
Bodoza lost his left leg and his hands are deformed after an assault by his attendants at an initiation school in Libode in March 2010.
The psychological trauma was intense, even more so when the case against his assailants was struck off the roll.
“The justice system has failed me,” said Bodoza sitting in his wheelchair at his rented RDP home in Thabo Mbeki Township in Libode.
But there is renewed hope for Bodoza in the form of the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation (SKF), which is investing R600000 in helping him out.
“We are going to restore his life back to normal and enable him to walk again and restore his dignity and boost his esteem,” said the foundation’s chairman Sizwe Kupelo. “We will organise a bursary for him to study further.”
A private orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Avenah Magan, and a team of specialist medical practitioners have agreed to conduct reconstructive surgery on Bodoza’s hands and fit him with a prosthetic leg, as well as provide psychological counselling.
Kupelo heard about Bodoza’s plight from a community development worker and the foundation has also approached the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to reinstate the case.
NPA spokesman Luxolo Tyali said the accused would soon have their day in court to answer to attempted murder and kidnapping charges.
Although Bodoza now finds himself with physical and psychological scars he said he was happy when he left for the mountains.
Hardly two days into initiation school he received his first beating.
“The seven men forced me to smoke tobacco and I refused. They beat me up. I tried to smoke but choked. They became angry, labelling me a sissy, and said I must be taught a lesson to be a real man.
“They beat me with sticks, iron rods and fists, and kicked me until I lost consciousness. They broke my left leg in three places and injured both my hands,” he said.
They refused him proper medical attention for nine days.
“Nobody came to my rescue. I wanted to die. I had unbearable pains and my leg was getting rotten. They even tried to hang me but the rope broke.”
He said his last memory of the school was when his sister, Sibusiso arrived and called an ambulance. “I later woke up at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital. I was in a coma for 41 days.”
He spent eight months in hospital.
“This year I went back to school to achieve my dream of being a social worker,” he said.
Kupelo is impressed with Bodoza’s attitude towards education.
“I am very touched by his spirit of ‘never give up’ and bravery. Despite his injuries and trauma and two years out of school, he soldiered on to go back to school.
“He is good in maths and science. He is also conducting peer education,” said Kupelo.
Bodoza will undergo surgery as soon as he has finished writing exams.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “May God bless the foundation and all those assisting. This is amazing.” — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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