18 February 2008
Big Brother star wants to marry eight-year-old
FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:
South African Big Brother Africa star Lerato Sengadi has set her sights on marrying the eight-year-old Gcinumuzi (Muzi) Sifundza. Lerato fell in love with the chronically ill boy last week on the evening before Valentine’s Day, when she threw a party for the children of Marang House – a home for seriously ill children in Johannesburg.
Muzi, who is from Swaziland, suffers from chronic renal failure and is in dire need of a kidney transplant. He is currently receiving his life-sustaining dialysis treatments at the Johannesburg General Hospital, as there are no paediatric renal facilities available in Swaziland. Muzi’s mother has agreed to donate one of her kidneys to her child, but the Swaziland authorities refuse to cover the costs for this operation, even though they have paid for other patients in similar situations.
Lerato Sengadi: “I would do anything to help this child. Muzi is an amazing boy with a big heart and an even bigger will to live. He is very smart, funny, has an amazing personality and is extremely brave. We had an instant connection and bond. It pains me terribly to see him suffer when there is a solution to his illness and suffering.”
Executive Director of Marang House, Pieter Ernst Jr: “The children of Marang House are huge fans of Lerato and Big Brother Africa and they were very excited that she took time out of her busy schedule to visit. Muzi, charming as he is, took a rose from our garden and handed it to Lerato, leaving her completely speechless and touched.”
Pieter continues: “When I explained Muzi’s challenging situation to Lerato, how he is denied his transplant, how he and his family have been treated by the authorities and that I so far not have been able to raise the required ZAR 380.000, the tears were pouring out of her eyes. I also explained that should he have been a South African citizen, the operation would have already taken place – especially since the doctors affirm that there is a nearly 9 out of 10 chance that the transplant will be successful.
Lerato adds: “I then asked what I could do to help and someone joked that I should just marry Muzi and he will perhaps receive South African citizenship. This is a very serious situation and extreme measures are necessary at this stage, so I thought about it and it seemed like the only option at this stage for Muzi to survive.“
Lerato elaborates: “It is very heartbreaking that a sick child like Muzi is being denied a chance to live. I believe it is every human’s right to have a chance at living a full and meaningful life, but the Swaziland government is denying him this. This could be Muzi’s only opportunity at even having a chance at having a near normal childhood and grow up to become a positively contributing member of society.”
Lerato is currently dating fellow Big Brother Africa star Maxwell Chongu from Zambia. “He knows how passionate I am about children and their wellbeing. Our relationship is solid; we have endured a lot together already. We love each other so this will not affect our relationship. Time is running out for this amazing boy, I am doing this in hopes of giving Muzi the gift of life, I am sure Max will understand”, says Lerato.
Permission from the Minister of Home Affairs will be requested this week, as this is one of the requirements for a minor to enter into a valid marriage. A legal team is also currently investigating how and if a marriage would grant Muzi South African citizenship and how long this process will take.
Everybody involved however hopes that this issue will be resolved before it comes to a marriage and that people start realising how serious and incredible sad Muzi’s case is. Hopefully the Swaziland government or private hospital groups and sponsors will come to the party to assist Muzi and resolve this matter in a more ethical and humane way.
Lerato was the South African contestant in the recent second season of the controversial reality show ‘Big Brother: Africa’.
South African Big Brother Africa star Lerato Sengadi has set her sights on marrying the eight-year-old Gcinumuzi (Muzi) Sifundza. Lerato fell in love with the chronically ill boy last week on the evening before Valentine’s Day, when she threw a party for the children of Marang House – a home for seriously ill children in Johannesburg.Muzi, who is from Swaziland, suffers from chronic renal failure and is in dire need of a kidney transplant. He is currently receiving his life-sustaining dialysis treatments at the Johannesburg General Hospital, as there are no paediatric renal facilities available in Swaziland. Muzi’s mother has agreed to donate one of her kidneys to her child, but the Swaziland authorities refuse to cover the costs for this operation, even though they have paid for other patients in similar situations.
Lerato Sengadi: “I would do anything to help this child. Muzi is an amazing boy with a big heart and an even bigger will to live. He is very smart, funny, has an amazing personality and is extremely brave. We had an instant connection and bond. It pains me terribly to see him suffer when there is a solution to his illness and suffering.”
Executive Director of Marang House, Pieter Ernst Jr: “The children of Marang House are huge fans of Lerato and Big Brother Africa and they were very excited that she took time out of her busy schedule to visit. Muzi, charming as he is, took a rose from our garden and handed it to Lerato, leaving her completely speechless and touched.”
Pieter continues: “When I explained Muzi’s challenging situation to Lerato, how he is denied his transplant, how he and his family have been treated by the authorities and that I so far not have been able to raise the required ZAR 380.000, the tears were pouring out of her eyes. I also explained that should he have been a South African citizen, the operation would have already taken place – especially since the doctors affirm that there is a nearly 9 out of 10 chance that the transplant will be successful.
Lerato adds: “I then asked what I could do to help and someone joked that I should just marry Muzi and he will perhaps receive South African citizenship. This is a very serious situation and extreme measures are necessary at this stage, so I thought about it and it seemed like the only option at this stage for Muzi to survive.“
Lerato elaborates: “It is very heartbreaking that a sick child like Muzi is being denied a chance to live. I believe it is every human’s right to have a chance at living a full and meaningful life, but the Swaziland government is denying him this. This could be Muzi’s only opportunity at even having a chance at having a near normal childhood and grow up to become a positively contributing member of society.”
Lerato is currently dating fellow Big Brother Africa star Maxwell Chongu from Zambia. “He knows how passionate I am about children and their wellbeing. Our relationship is solid; we have endured a lot together already. We love each other so this will not affect our relationship. Time is running out for this amazing boy, I am doing this in hopes of giving Muzi the gift of life, I am sure Max will understand”, says Lerato.
Permission from the Minister of Home Affairs will be requested this week, as this is one of the requirements for a minor to enter into a valid marriage. A legal team is also currently investigating how and if a marriage would grant Muzi South African citizenship and how long this process will take.
Everybody involved however hopes that this issue will be resolved before it comes to a marriage and that people start realising how serious and incredible sad Muzi’s case is. Hopefully the Swaziland government or private hospital groups and sponsors will come to the party to assist Muzi and resolve this matter in a more ethical and humane way.
Lerato was the South African contestant in the recent second season of the controversial reality show ‘Big Brother: Africa’.
About Marang House
Many children in South Africa who suffer from life-threatening diseases unfortunately do not have the home environments that will facilitate their recuperation and restoration to normal health. This lack of a suitable environment results in young children living permanently in government hospitals, which is not only unnecessary but also has a negative impact on their survival and future health.
Marang House is a successful non-profit organization caring for these ill children by providing them with a stable home environment including a family setting, twenty-four hour medical care, regular monitoring and hospital visits, nutritious meals and lots of love. Marang House is a registered non-profit organization (006-182 NPO) and has been approved as a public benefit organization (PBO 930 003 724). For more information please visit http://www.maranghouse.com/.
Many children in South Africa who suffer from life-threatening diseases unfortunately do not have the home environments that will facilitate their recuperation and restoration to normal health. This lack of a suitable environment results in young children living permanently in government hospitals, which is not only unnecessary but also has a negative impact on their survival and future health.
Marang House is a successful non-profit organization caring for these ill children by providing them with a stable home environment including a family setting, twenty-four hour medical care, regular monitoring and hospital visits, nutritious meals and lots of love. Marang House is a registered non-profit organization (006-182 NPO) and has been approved as a public benefit organization (PBO 930 003 724). For more information please visit http://www.maranghouse.com/.
Labels: muzi
# posted by Pieter Ernst Jr @ 09:20 
