A young man from Cape Town has proven that humanity is not lost and brought back the Christmas spirit to many, including the Cape of Good Hope Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Lathitha Daweti, 22, and his mother, Mathundela from Khayelitsha have been praised for pouring their hearts into saving a fragile, little kitten.
They’ve named the kitten Will - a homage to his extraordinary will to live.
Lathutha was strolling in the area with a friend when he heard faint cries from a dustbin.
He followed the sound and discovered a newborn kitten inside a box, abandoned and clinging to life. Barely the size of his pal, Will had little to no chance of survival but Lathitha would not let the odds win.
“I couldn’t just walk away. He was so small and fragile. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I had to try to help him,” he said.
He picked up the kitten and rushed home. While he was not sure what he had to do, Lathitha knew Will was hungry.
“I could tell he was hungry, but I didn’t know what to feed him. We had cow’s milk at home, but after watching a YouTube video, I learned it wasn’t safe for kittens,” he said.
While waiting for his mother to return home from work, Lathitha spent four hours comforting the little kitten and whispering words of encouragement.
His mother, Mathundela arrived home and wasted no time, heading straight to the SPCA where she was given special milk for the kitten while Lathitha soaked in all he could learn.
YouTube taught him how to bottle feed the tiny kitten, massage his fragile stomach to aid digestion and keep him warm with a hot water bottle under a bed of blankets in a milk crate.
Today, 22 days later, Will knows Lathitha’s scent and greets him with a purr whenever he enters any room.
“Will’s my best friend,” Lathitha said.
The aspiring world-class goalkeeper said after soccer training, the first thing he does is feed Will.
“At night, I keep up the three-hourly feeding routine. it’s my first taste of fatherhood,” Lathitha said.
The Daweti household is known for their hearts of gold as their home welcomes stray dogs from the community offering water and a safe place to rest.
Cape of Good Hope SPCA spokesperson, Belinda Abraham said the mother and son are a true inspiration.
“Lathitha and his mother, Mathundela, are such an inspiration. Their story is a great reminder of the fact that there truly is no greater gift to give to give anyone than love,” Abraham said.
The organisation heard Lathitha once dreamed to play for Bafana Bafana and he was so close until his father’s passing forced him to put his dream on hold.
Lathitha now repairs second-hand soccer booths to wear so he can keep training at the local community centre in Khayelitsha.
The young man has one motto.
“Spread love. You never know where it might take you. And don’t expect anything in return. Expectations can lead to disappointment,” Lathitha said.
“Will’s story shows that love can transform lives, no matter the circumstances. This Christmas, as you gather with your loved ones, take a moment to reflect on the quiet magic of kindness. The Dawetis, with their open hearts, have shown us that the greatest gift of all is love. In their humble home, Will sleeps soundly, wrapped in warmth and safety, his belly full because Lathitha chose compassion over indifference. And isn’t that the true magic of Christmas?” Abraham asked.