Party dream comes true for little Sibongile
Published Jul 1, 2001
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Sibongile wore a white satin dress with glittering sleeves and a diamante tiara. She was seated on the stage of the hall with her aunt, Thembisa Mhlongo, who looks after her.
Hundreds of people poured into the hall beneath her to celebrate her birthday party.
But the five-year-old was exhausted, so she dozed through most of the proceedings.
Sibongile is battling with full-blown Aids.
She only awoke hours into the party when guests sang "Happy Birthday". She looked dazed as she surveyed the crowd, but when her aunt held her upright to pose for photographers, she broke into a grin.
When the third present was handed to her she refused to give it to her grandfather. Instead, she waved it playfully just out of his reach.
When she turned five last Tuesday, Sibongile Princess Mazeka wished for a birthday party. Sponsorships poured in after an article in the Cape Times last week about Sibongile's wish.
This might be her last birthday, as her condition is deteriorating. She has twice been admitted to hospital with pneumonia in the past month, and now has a brain tumour that causes her to have epileptic fits.
Wimpy sponsored a party for more than 50 children at GrandWest Casino on Saturday and Metropolitan Life, with Reach for a Dream, sponsored most of the party at Phandulwazi Hall in Langa on Sunday.
The hall was festooned with balloons and streamers.
Sibongile sat on the stage with her aunt's family and a church choir. Children filled tiny colourful chairs at a central table and, as the afternoon wore on, the crowd in the hall swelled until even the aisles between the tables were packed.
"Sibongile never feels sorry for herself," said Sister Maria, principal of St Anthony's preschool, which the little girl attends. "She has shown me, in my old age, how to overcome difficulties and sickness. One day she is in hospital, the next she is back in school, and quite happy again.
"This is what I hope - that other people with HIV-positive children will come forward and not hide the state of their children - and that they can have such a party too."
The party lasted for over five hours as church choirs from Bishop Lavis, Khayelitsha and Gugulethu rocked the hall with gospel music.
Priests, family and the principal of Sibongile's nursery school delivered speeches praising the little girl's zest for life.
"Sibongile is getting quite spoilt with all this attention, but that is good, because we don't know how much longer she will be with us," said Vuyani Jacobs of the Treatment Action Campaign, who helped organise the party.
"Last night, when I was with her, she prayed as she does every night: 'Lord, if you can't take this illness from me, make it easier for me to live with.'
"Sibongile is excited about her birthday," said her aunt.
"I don't think she is very sad about her disease, as I don't think she is really aware of what it means."
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