Thandeka's Story In Verse

Thandeka’s story – she died from cold and poverty in August 2012 in Kwazulu, Natal, S. Africa

I love the sun, that gentle warmth
Which embraces all, like loving arms
Which heals the sadness deep inside
The sorrow which we strive to hide

Thandeka lost her precious life
Not through warfare, guns or strife.
Not through violence caused by knife
Her death was caused by poverty.

No blankets for the winter’s night
Mud house was lit by candle light.
Left with AIDs- no strength to fight.
The reason why? T’was poverty.

Her parents died but no one cared
AIDs – the stigma – people scared.
Could someone help ? No one dared.
Result, of course, was poverty!

Older sister next to die
Thandeka said her sad goodbye
With no more tears left to cry
Still left with AIDs and poverty.

Thandeka had one sister still
Mbali, but she too was ill
Just 3 years old – Would AIDs now kill
And take her from that poverty?

An aunty, hearing of their plight,
Came to visit late one night.
She knew to leave them wasn’t right
So she joined them in their poverty.

Their home of mud – no more was sound
Could, any day, fall to the ground.
But God is good and they were found
By Nancy – midst their poverty.

A charity called ‘One Life’ with funds from folk who care.
Gave blankets to the aunty and the mud hut did repair
Auntie gave her thanks to God but the battle wasn’t won
No funding to give blankets to each and everyone

Aunty started to be ill – to the doctor she did lie
She couldn’t face that she had AIDs; t’was the stigma helped her die.
.The drugs which could have saved her life, Aunty wouldn’t take.
And when she died the children cried as if their hearts would break.

Auntie’s sister also died; another wasted life
AIDs untreated – another death not caused by sword or knife.
More children now were orphaned, all needing to be fed.
Auntie’s eldest teenage girl became their mum instead.

Just a little while ago I heard Thandeka died.
Frozen to Mbali – together side by side.
I really need to stress this point, it wasn’t sword or knife.
But poverty and lack of care that took Thandeka’s life.

Mbali’s still in hospital, her condition now is stable.
And I give God thanks for your support as, with funding, now I’m able
To give each child a sleeping bag with which to save its life,
And prevent more deaths through poverty which kills more than the knife.

Some people question what I do, ask is it worth my while?
When millions starve – and yes that’s true – but I’ve seen a sick child smile.
Each morning I give thanks to God – to God in all his glory
For ‘One Life Saved’ is a miracle and for me a success story.

Thandeka’s life was not in vain, for her, God had a plan
By dying in the way she did, she touched the heart of man
Her death will now save children’s lives and the lives of adults too.
God blessed this girl who gave her life and now He blesses you.