In a gentle way, you can shake the world.
Mahatma Gandhi’s words, above, serve as a powerful reminder of the consequences of our actions in a world that seems increasingly preoccupied with power, profits, politics and provocation — but not necessarily the wellbeing of its people.
It’s easy to be distracted by the cacophony of noise, manufactured outrage and barbs traded on social media about the sorry state of the planet. Not so much pitching in to help others if it means getting our hands dirty, or stepping outside of our comfort zones.
But real heroes walk among us, every day, whose contribution to society and achievements should be shouted from the rooftops and celebrated.
Three remarkable people featured in our digital and print publications this week who made the world, and our country in particular, a better place.
Brandon Janeka was hailed as a hero in Cape Town for risking his life this weekend to help rescue a bather swept out to sea by strong currents at Blouberg beach. The humble, soft-spoken father told CapeTalk radio on Tuesday: “She was [treading water] for about 10 minutes, and no-one wanted to do anything. So I thought to myself, I can't just let a human being die like that.”
He ended up not only saving the person in danger of drowning but also a bystander who swam out with a pink rescue buoy and also got into difficulty.
Teacher Nqobile Mbatha from Nellmapius Primary School in Tshwane went to great lengths to ensure classwork and homework was sent to her grade 3 pupil Relebogile Maloma, 9, who was hospitalised for months after a leukaemia diagnosis.
Maloma was given time to do projects and write assessments by her teacher. She successfully completed two school terms while undergoing chemotherapy, often experiencing unpleasant side-effects. Mbatha won the My Teacher competition at the National Teachers Awards — after being nominated by Maloma who is back at school and well on her way to grade 4.
Sheer tenacity, sleepless nights and months of meticulous investigation led W/O Tlala John Mokoena and his team to identify and capture serial rapist Nkosinathi Phakathi in Ekurhuleni after a reign of terror that started in 2012. At the start of the investigation, they had no biological forensic evidence, fingerprints or even a name for the suspect.
Phakathi was last week sentenced to 42 life terms and 791 years behind bars. “After finally catching up with him, I really cried that day ... I have seen and interviewed children as young as nine narrating the story of how this guy violated them. I never thought I carried so much pain and emotions within me, but I was happy, shocked, crying and I was glad that I finally caught him,” Mokoena told the Sowetan.
There are many unsung heroes among us whose patience, compassion, valour, kindness, deeds and words of encouragement deserve recognition.
Let us celebrate their achievements. And ask how we can contribute, in the smallest or gentle way.
There is still a lot of good left in the world.
• Is there a local hero in your town or community? Please let us know via email to tellus@timeslive.co.za
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