WHO IS WILLIAM AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?

I did not think about it that so many people will read this blog that has not met William yet.  William is from the Transkei and speaks Xhosa, Afrikaans and a little English. About 12 years ago I was looking for someone to help me start up with a project with children from a very disadvantaged community. But normally when you find a worker you need to always be there to supervise this worker. My message was that I was looking for someone that likes to work for himself.

From the winecellar I got a message that the worker I am looking for is on holiday from the transkei and is travelling with his sewing machine. Where ever  he is he will start doing amends on clothes and get some money in. I showed William my plans and I will never forget how enthusiastic he was. His wife (they are now seperated) was still in the transkei and would only join him much later.

William started as builder, then painter, then gardener and finally he was the best teacher for our Grade R children. The children lovingly calls him "Boetie", meaning Brother.

Early in the start of the project William found children abandoned and sleeping on weekends under the bushes because of abuse in the community. William took them into his own home and later sponsors from Holland put up a small hut for these children. One of these "children" - Andile became William's attacker and another one - Lethu  is now a personal carer of William.

Andile for a long time was a problem maker and for the last two years we have refused him entry at the project. He turned out abusing alcahol and drugs. Drug abuse are increasing in Bonnievale and he wanted money from William. But he was not alone, another person also joined the attack. Both of them are now in prison awaiting trial for this attack but also for other crimes.

They stole R 2000.00 from William and with the brutal attack on him, he was left for dead, his life are changed forever.