Mamkhulu

Sipho Nkosi

Sipho is a 28 year old young man who was born in Swaziland. He was born a twin and his mother called him “Mistake” in Siswati. At 3 months of age, his mother could no longer care for him, so he was sent to South Africa to be looked after by his grandmother. When she passed away, he went to live with his father and later an uncle, but the family was very abusive to the boy who they felt was a mistake. When he was 12 years old, Sipho was thrown out on the street and through his teen years he grew up on the streets of one of the townships called Msogwaba. When he tells his story he tells of how he did all the things that street kids do. Three years ago he was invited to Orchard Camp and it changed his life forever. He gave his life to Christ and today he is a part owner in a construction company.

Sipho never gave up on school, continuing to attend while he sold newspapers on street corners. His teachers did not understand when he tried to explain that he needed to sell the papers in the morning twice a week in order to eat.

Now Sipho helps other young people who need support and a hand up. Several years ago he found his mother and his twin brother in Swaziland and was reunited with them after 27 years. This young man is growing, developing and blossoming into the young man God intended him to be. He has a family of his own now and is working part time at the Litsemba Centre doing maintenance, working part time for Penreach as a sports coordinator and working to move his construction company forward.

Over the past 2 years he has gained experience doing construction at two sites, learning how to lay blocks, install doors and windows, parge walls and lay plumbing. All these skills will make for an efficient and competent manager as the Litsemba Centre expands.

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