Girl who cheated death celebrates her matric ball with community support

She was known as the girl who cheated death at age five when she was left with 86 percent of burns to her body when a fire engulfed her home 13 years ago and today every layer of her skin tells a story as she celebrates her final schooling year.

Motibi, 18, of Wallacedene reached out via TikTok recently asking for assistance for her matric ball which took place this week.

The response was overwhelming, pageant queen and humanitarian, Keegan-Lee “Apple” Croy,” her grandmother Daphne Croy, MAD Crew, VW motor club, Time Capsule Photography, Angkura Bursary Fund and AFM Wallacedene, all stepped in to make her dream come true on Wednesday.

"I just want to say thank you to everyone who helped me, I appreciate it and may God bless them for their good deeds," Motibi told Cape Argus, who had been dressed in a green and white suit for the occasion.

She said while one dream was realised, she was keen to attend college for art and design but that she did not have financial support for it.

Her former school teacher, Joy Sedgwick, has been her fairy God mother and guardian angel since the age of eight.

Motibi and her three-year-old brother were engulfed in flames when a candle fell over inside their home.

Her brother who survived the blaze, lives with his biological father.

Motibi, a learner at Westcliff School of Skills had undergone 20 operations including skin grafting by six donors and also lived at a children's home as there was no one suitable to take care of her medical needs.

She was also left with deformed fingers and other injuries.

The skin donor was Andrew Meddick, 15, who contracted viral encephalitis and despite being an organ donor, his organs were infected but not his skin and it saved her life.

Following her time in hospital, she taken to St Joseph’s home and was enrolled into St Joseph’s RC Special School in Montana where she met Sedgwick.

“She was six when she arrived at our school as she was transferred from Red Cross Children’s Hospital to St Joseph’s home which is next to our school,” Sedgwick added.

“She was at home from 2013 until 2022, until she reached the age of 15, due to her grandmother passing away and there was no one to take care of her and today she lives with her mother and relatives in the same house that burnt.

“A Dr who used to practise at Red Cross Children’s Hospital, is currently providing her transport fees for her schooling which I administer and for her toiletries.

“God had a plan and purpose for her life.

Croy, who has the organisation, Moving Forward Youth & Risk, Apple, who was the former Miss City of Cape Town 2024, Miss Teen Schools Western Cape Queen 2023 said her goals are to help girls like Motibi: "Someone in our modelling school donated two suits and sneakers.

“What you can learn from this experience is never to be afraid to help people and not to be afraid of your circumstance to ask for help.”

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Cape Argus