A Capetonian woman is doing everything she possibly can to get a friend and colleague, who is dying, home to his mother in Tanzania… this is Ubuntu in action.
Ubuntu is a Nguni Bantu term roughly translating to “human kindness”. It is an idea from the Southern African region which means literally “human-ness”, and is often translated as “humanity towards others”, but is often used in a more philosophical sense to mean “the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity”.
Capetonian, Natalie Stewart, is embodying the Ubuntu concept as she is trying to use every possible measure to get her friend and colleague, Salim, home to his mom in his final days.
Salim is originally from Kenya but has worked for Stewart in Cape Town for many years as one of her talented performing artists. He has been the backbone to many corporate events and always worked incredibly hard for her.
But his life has not been easy.
His wife left him a couple of years ago, with three kids, after becoming a Tik addict and moving to the streets to support her habit. Shortly after, Salim found out that he had contracted HIV.
Salim, even though very sickly continued to do everything possible to look after his family as his new role as a single father. His focus was on staying healthy and working even harder to support his children.
When he became to ill to continue his independence, Stewart paid for him and the kids to move to Kimberley where his wife’s family live. Stewart made a vow to keep funding him to make sure that he was able to look after himself and his family but it seems that his health has taking a turn for the worse and doctors do not believe he has much time left.
Stewart found out the news and immediately put a call out on social media to help her get Salim home to his mother in Tanzania so he could spend his final days with his closest loved ones.
“Salim is dying and I need to take him home to his mum in Tanzania. He is very weak and he can not do it alone.”
“I am going to drive to Kimberley to pick him up and see his kids and make sure I know where they are and who has them and be with him when he says goodbye to them. They are all under the age of 10.”
“I have also booked us flights on my credit cards to Kenya and then from Kenya we will fly to Arusha to his mum.”
“I am going to need all the help I can get!”
“If anyone knows anyone in Nairobi who could put us up for the evening on Sunday that would be incredible.”
“This whole mission is going to cost me a minimum of R30k which is going to put a huge strain on me right now.”
“Please please can you look into your hearts and see if you can possibly help us somehow. In anyway. Please share this post. Please offer any advice.”
“I am very distraught and am very emotional but I need to take my friend home.”
If you can help Stewart in any way on her human-kindness mission, visit her profile here or her crowd-funding page here.