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Watch: T-shirt and a plaque for Mozambican who saved boy from Juskei River, in Johannesburg
10:12 CAT | 12 Mar 2019
Photo: Twitter
Vincent Cosa, who was filmed risking his life to save a child paralysed by fear above the raging water of the Juskei River, has been given a bravery award.
Vincent Cosa, who was filmed risking his life to save a child paralysed by fear above the raging water of the Juskei River, has been given a bravery award.
The ANC greater Johannesburg region awarded Cosa a certificate of bravery on Monday. The party shared a picture of a smiling Cosa, dressed in a bright yellow T-shirt with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s face on it.
Cosa, a Mozambican national, told The Sowetan this week that hearing the heart-wrenching cries of 10-year-old Mpilo Ngubane had moved him to act.
His heroic act was captured on video, with many hailing him as a hero.
This man needs a medal for bravery: he rescued a child in Alexandra JHB (Jukskei River). WATCH pic.twitter.com/kxSebpZoj9
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) March 9, 2019
Mpilo was trying to cross the river by crawling across a water pipe. Cosa said he was on his way from helping out residents who recently lost their shacks in a fire when he heard a commotion near the bridge.
“I wanted to help when I saw that child trapped on the pipe. It was like seeing one of my own children in trouble. I could see that I was taking a big risk and that I could also die but I decided to do it anyway. God gave me strength and I saved him,” he said.
Cosa said he could hear Mpilo crying loudly as he approached.
A strong current was flowing below and Cosa had to move carefully on the slippery pipe.
“When I got to him I held him and turned him to face the other direction. I instructed him to hold on to me and I started moving towards the grassy area,” Cosa said.
He said people observing from the bridge cheered him on as many had been too afraid to help.
The father of four, who lives in a shack just downstream from the bridge, said he never expected to become a hero overnight.
“I’m happy that I could save this child’s life,” he said.
Joburg Hero Speaks Out: HOW I SAVED BOY FROM JUSKEI RIVER! >>> https://t.co/LcKrtdgfrw
— Celeb Gossip (@celebgossipZA) March 10, 2019
Vincent Cosa who saved the young boy at the Juskei River says he lives in the Setswetla informal settlement in Alex, is undocumented and unemployed #BreakfastWithDavid pic.twitter.com/o30jXHCsDY
— Kaya FM Talk (@KayaFMTalk) March 11, 2019
Residents are discouraged from building close to the river banks #Juskei #Alex^TK pic.twitter.com/7ZXH7bgorJ
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) March 5, 2019
Vincent Cosa
Rescued a child who could have drowned in Alex in Jozi from a raging Juskei River.
Heroes come daily pic.twitter.com/5jXnX7n9e5
— Sure Kamhunga (@sure_kamhunga) March 10, 2019
Onlookers cheer as samaritan successfully rescues a stranded child https://t.co/vYriWIYe44
— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) March 9, 2019
The hero who saved a child’s life from a flash flood in Alex is a poor unemployed undocumented immigrant. If he got sick, David Makhura would demand he pay for a public hospital. Herman Mashaba would deport him to Mozambique and build a wall. #Xenophobia
https://t.co/wpzaNAohpU— Ms♀️⛪? (@SimplyThandeka) March 13, 2019
Source: Times Live
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