Nine-year-old Alonde Ngwenya has spent his life waiting… waiting for answers, for relief, for someone to help. After years of being turned away from hospitals, his fight against a rare condition may finally take a turn for the better but he and his mother can’t do it alone.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (18 March 2025) – Nine-year-old Alonde Ngwenya has spent his life carrying a challenge no child should have to face. Born with a severe case of cystic hygroma, his condition has caused significant swelling on his face and foot, making everyday tasks difficult.
But despite the obstacles, this resilient Grade 4 pupil dreams big… he wants to become a lawyer one day.
For his mother, Ntombifuthi Khumalo, the journey has been one of endless hospital visits, unanswered pleas, and heartache, as shared by News24. She has taken him from one facility to another, only to be turned away repeatedly. The swelling, which started on his neck when he was just three months old, has now spread to his foot, making it impossible for him to wear regular shoes.
“It’s very hard to watch him grow in such a manner, being different. I fear for him that as he grows older, he might face bullying, whether at school or anywhere. Also, he is a person who loves sports, but he can’t participate because his foot is now swollen. It’s very hard,” she shared.
But today, there’s hope.
After years of struggle, Alonde’s story has finally been heard, and thanks to The Angel Network Durban, help is on the way. The organisation has put out a call to action to support Alonde and his mother as he prepares for his long-awaited surgery at the end of March.
“We became aware of Alonde’s plight after his mother made an appeal to News24 in the hope of obtaining some help and attention. His mother lives in Bergville and will need a place to sleep for the duration of Alonde’s hospital stay. We would love to book a guesthouse for her and would also like to support Alonde after his operation, so we will use any funds raised towards this too. Please donate what you can so we can help this lovely family during this trying time,” they said.
The Angel Network Durban has opened a fund to assist Alonde and his mother. Contributions will go towards accommodation for Ntombifuthi, post-surgery care, and anything else Alonde may need on his road to recovery.
Banking Details:
The Angel Network Durban
Standard Bank
Account number: 10145040508
Branch: 051001
Reference: Your Name / ALONDE
After nine years of uncertainty, Alonde is closer than ever to receiving the care he desperately needs. While the journey has been long, this little fighter now has an army of kind-hearted people rallying behind him. His dream of growing up without pain, of playing sports, of stepping into a courtroom as a lawyer one day, is finally within reach.
To everyone who donates, shares his story, or sends love his way, you are part of his journey to healing. And that, right there, is something truly good.
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