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We need more heroes
14/09/2007 09:34 - (SA)
Colleen Figg
I spoke to Jericho Sithole today, after roughly a fortnight spent wondering why his heroism at Cresta has not received countrywide acclaim and official approbation.
During the interview, Jericho showed himself to be modest and self-effacing, a gentle, ordinary man whose quick action saved a child's life.
He said that he had received a lot of support and kindness from ordinary people, and had heard in person from Allen Ambor, the founder of Spur, who said that he and Spur were proud of Sithole's heroism on that night.
I wanted to write this column about Jericho Sithole because in all the resulting fracas and hospitalisation, news headlines and so on surrounding this drama, he strikes me as a real unsung hero. Apart from quoting his words in a few articles, I think the most acknowledgement any of the media sources gave Sithole was to say 'the family thanked him personally'.
It was when I read that little line that I decided I had to get involved. They 'thanked him personally', did they? I'll bet the family was a lot more effusive than thanking him personally; I'd venture to say the family most likely considers itself firmly and forever in Sithole's debt. I know I would be.
True practitioner of the Ubuntu
The point I am trying to make, here (this for some column readers who seem struck by a particular kind of obtuseness lately, judging from comments on other articles) is that Jericho Sithole, in acting as he did that night has firmly, albeit unintentionally, entrenched himself as a true practitioner of the Ubuntu this country so desperately needs.
Jericho said, "Something told me to go there and I went, then the child cried out and fell, and I just managed to catch him", and to him, it's as simple as that. The need was there, the child was afraid, he looked like he was going to fall, and in a spirit of brother-to-brother Jericho Sithole was there to do his damndest to save the little boy.
I was struck and impressed by his modesty in recounting the story, as if he never seemed to think there was all that much to it.
We need more people like Sithole, to help where help is needed, to catch when someone's falling, to lead through positive effort and kindness, and decency of spirit, to show us that the, 'I won't get involved' mantra so many of us live by is stupid and selfish in the extreme.
Jericho Sithole, Ngiyakuhlonipha! I salute you, publicly, and if I could give you a medal, the highest honour a country can bestow on one of its citizens, I would!
Send your comments to Colleen.
Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24.
- News24
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HEROES
14/09/2007 09:57
Absolutely, I agree with you whole-heartedly. - Liz Galt |
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Ubuntu
14/09/2007 10:09
I too salute you Jericho. You are a hero, not just to the family of the child you saved, but to the rest of the nation. If only we had more people like you in our lives. There are many people out there (myself included) who could learn some valuable life lessons from a man like you. - Nicky |
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Absolutely
14/09/2007 10:09
Great article and I`m in total agreement.
Jericho Sithole, you are truely an unsung hero and SA needs alot more people like you.
- Nick |
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I didn't even know that this had happened
14/09/2007 10:12
Incredible - this is the kind of thing that the world needs more of - someone going out of their way to watch out for someone else that they don't know - and I didn't even know that it had happened ... Jericho is a man to be looked up to - he was concerned for that boy and he didn't consider that it might not be his problem if the child hurt himself. - Chez |
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Jericho Sithole, I salute you
14/09/2007 10:21
News stories like this one, and the one about the protester who lead the injured journalist to safety, renew my faith in South Africans and that we can overcome the fear, intolerance and hatred that poverty and crime breeds. Please News 24 - more stories like this rather than the typical 'it bleeds therefore it leads'. We need to hear more about real South African heroes!! - May |
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I salute him too
14/09/2007 10:32
We definitely need more people who don't think too much before they dispel a kind act. And who are modest and help out of genuine concern for others...and the rest of us, including myself, need to remember that we do need to help out where we can. - Tanya |
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Good read
14/09/2007 10:38
Hi Colleen. I'm Robert from Australia (timewarp on the Hippyland forum) and I found your article through that site. I'm not a writer, reporter or anything like that, but I'm in the language business (translator, interpreter and Cambridge ESOL examiner). I always like a good, healthy read and that is what your article here is.
Thank you,
Lokking fwd to reading more.
KEEP ON! - Robert |
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Jericho Sithole a true hero!!
14/09/2007 11:15
How wonderful it would be if our press concentrated on the positive stories more...
There is so much good happening we do not know about.
Jericho Sithole, a true peoples hero, thank you sir, for being such a great example. - Barry |
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Thanks...
14/09/2007 11:18
...for interviewing him. I raised my eyebrows when I read that the family had 'thanked him personally'. Is that all? Forget medals, if someone saved my child's life, I'd give them a reward. - Saffa |
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I salute him
14/09/2007 11:20
This story has made my day and my weekend we need such people with Ubuntu in this country. I salute you Jericho! - Tandeka |
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How may I help?
14/09/2007 11:28
After reading this, I have just re-committed to giving whatever I can, whenever I can. I feel so rotten for all the times I have thought " maybe somebody else will do it". Thanks Jericho, and thank you Colleen for writing his story. Many people like myself were not even aware of this incident. - shadi mnisi |
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JERICHO
14/09/2007 11:42
THREE CHEERS FOR JERICHO SITHOLE. YOU A TRUE HERO WHO DID NOT HESITATE ONE LITTLE BIT TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A LITTLE BOY. YOU NEVER LET COLOUR STAND IN YOUR WAY YOU NEED THE 'MEDAL OF HEROISM' BETOWED UPON YOU BY THE MAJOR OF THE TOWN. GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR UNSELFISHNESS. - MAMMA |
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RE: We need more heroes
14/09/2007 11:45
I love this story and fully agree, without thinking Jericho Sithole saved this child's life. That is larger than any sports hero. Thank you for doing what you have done Jericho! I bet there are many more heroes in this country, lets hear about them! - Don |
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Heroes
14/09/2007 11:49
I totally agree. Jericho you are a HERO, and should be applauded for your selflesness. The world does need more people like you. Thank you Colleen for bringing this man to our attention.
- Mandy |
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Mr Sithole a "Hero"
14/09/2007 12:05
You did a wonderfull job I congraculate you so much for what you did to that little boy by saving his life. - Patience Nozibele |
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Beautiful story
14/09/2007 12:09
What Jericho Sithole did, was really amazing and hopefully all of us could learn from people like him and the protester that lead the reporter to safety! Why wasn't more good things said about the protester as well? Jericho, you rock!!! - Lisl |
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Jericho the Hero
14/09/2007 12:32
Thanks for warm feeling of hope into my heart. Funny how stories like this never get front page headlines. Are humans more interested in each other's demise? - Zee |
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Astute Comment
14/09/2007 12:33
Hi Colleen - most astute of you to pick up on the media ovelooking an act of unselfishness. As usual your writing is of an exceptional standard - keep up the wonderful work! - Noelene Van Bosch |
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Where were the parents?
14/09/2007 12:34
Well done, Jericho. You were in the right place at the right time, and did not hesitate to act. But this whole incident is indicitive of many parents, who apparently are quite happy to enjoy their meal while their kids run around unattended. I have personally had kiddies crawl under my table in hide and seek games. I've seen waitrons dodging kids with loaded trays or plates of food. Come on, parents! Good manners and restaurant etique are basic! - Thea du Toit |
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You go man!!
14/09/2007 12:36
Thanks be to Jericho!! You did what any responsible adult would and should do in a situation like that. You are thanked for your actions and kindness. What do you say to a man who has saved your child? What reward would be enough?
To the parents of this pre-schooler...what was your child doing unsupervised climbing an escalator whilst you sat in a restaurant eating dinner? He could have been abducted! Responsible actions shown by Jericho-salute, irresponsible parenting by the parents-tut tut - Kiki |
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Really?
14/09/2007 13:09
Wow, I didn't even know this happened. Good job Jericho! You are our hero. - Sello |
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You are a hero
14/09/2007 13:15
I would have done a whole lot more than 'thank him personally' if that had been my child. Well done Jericho. - AS |
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Says something about us
14/09/2007 13:20
I also salute Jericho. He embodies that which can be good in people. For myself I am ashamed looking only at the negative and missing what a wonderfull deed this man did. Jericho you are a true hero. I would be happy for my street to be renamed after you and people like you. - doorboot |
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JERICHO UNSUNG HERO
14/09/2007 13:20
I didn't even know that something like this happened, thumbs up for such a wonderful column. To Jericho you are really our HERO, I agree with everybody you deserve the highest honour a country bestow to their citizens. To the family I hope you "didn't just thanked him personally", you understood that he saved your and he deserves an honour. To the media this kind of a story gives us hope as a nation, we really need to be read them. - Puleng |
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