A 10-year-old Motherwell boy’s dream of having two hands came true when Boardwalk Hotel and Casino and Sun International fulfilled waitress Zoliswa Qolo’s wish of a prosthetic limb for her son.
It was a big surprise for Yamkela Qolo when he was fitted with the artificial limb valued at R150 000, as part of Sun International’s CE’s Sun Wish campaign that grants one wish chosen from employees from across the group each year, selected by the chief executive Anthony Leeming.
For Zoliswa, the prosthetic hand is an answer to a decade of prayer. “When Yamkela was born and the doctors told me he had one hand, I was shocked and scared – questioning why it had happened to me, and how my son was going to cope. Society can be cruel, especially children, who ask why he has one hand. God has now answered all the questions, together with Sun International.”
Driven by her son’s requests for the expensive artificial limb, Zoliswa, who has worked at Boardwalk since 2015, decided to submit her wish. “Tati listened to my story, which helped solve my problem. Sun International’s Sun Wish has answered one of my life’s biggest wishes and it is going to change Yamkela’s life.”
Yamkela, who is in Grade four at St Augustine’s Primary School was born with a hand deformity, and was overjoyed with the life-changing device which he said will help improve his soccer. “I am a goalie so my prosthetic hand will help me to grab the ball,” he said. “Having 10 fingers is also going to help me do maths faster because I can count more easily.”
Boardwalk Hotel and Casino general manager Tati Tsunke said he was delighted that the hospitality and entertainment group could make such a big difference to Yamkela’s life: “It is so rewarding to be able to make a difference within the community, which is part of Sun International’s corporate strategy, and Boardwalk is overjoyed that our chief executive Anthony chose to fulfil Zoliswa’s wish.”
Saturday Star