Pete van Staden, Johannesburg – I agree with Clare Drew’s letter “Marian shrine an opulent mistake” (April 5).
The Saturday Star of March 25 published the story of the death from neglect of a young 15-year-old boy living in the community of Syferbult on the dejected outskirts of Magaliesberg.
He died of starvation and Aids, and weighed 17kg.
HIV/Aids is rampant in this community, all of whom can’t afford to get their medication in Koster. A mobile clinic visits intermittently. These people see themselves as forgotten.
Days before the death of this boy, following inquiries by the Saturday Star, the North West’s social development department held a meeting to discuss how to better help the community of Syferbult.
The needs of these forgotten people are far greater than that of building an opulent shrine in Magaliesberg.
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