The magic of Christmas shines brightest in the most unexpected places, like a modest home in Khayelitsha. Here, 22-year-old Lathitha Daweti and his mother, Mathundela, are pouring their hearts into saving a fragile little kitten they’ve named Will—an homage to his extraordinary will to live.
Will’s story began on an ordinary day when Lathitha, strolling through his neighborhood with a friend, heard faint cries coming from a dustbin. Guided by the sound, he discovered a tiny newborn kitten inside a box, abandoned and clinging to life.
Barely the size of his palm, Will had little chance of survival. But Lathitha couldn’t bring himself to walk away.
Scooping up the tiny bundle, Lathitha rushed home. “I didn’t know what to do,” he admits. “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.” While waiting for his mom to return from work, Lathitha spent four hours comforting Will, stroking him gently and whispering words of encouragement.
When Mathundela arrived home, she wasted no time. Heading straight to the SPCA, where she was given some special kitten milk. Meanwhile, Lathitha immersed himself in learning. YouTube taught him how to bottle-feed the tiny kitten, massage his fragile tummy to aid digestion, and keep him warm with a hot water bottle under a bed of blankets in a milk crate.
Today, Will knows the scent of his rescuer and greets Lathitha with insistent mews whenever he enters the room. “Will’s my best friend,” says Lathitha, a talented goalkeeper with dreams of soccer stardom. “After training, the first thing I do is feed him. At night, I keep up the three-hourly feeding routine—it’s my first taste of fatherhood.”
Kindness isn’t new to the Daweti household. Mathundela, a widow, welcomes stray dogs from the community, offering them water and a safe place to rest.
Despite their own struggles, including the loss of Lathitha’s father, the Daweti family has never hesitated to give.
Once, Lathitha dreamed of playing for South Africa’s national soccer team, Bafana Bafana. His father’s passing forced him to put that dream on hold. Still passionate about the sport, he now repairs second-hand soccer boots so he can keep training at a local Khayelitsha community centre.
Yet, through it all, the Daweti family continues to maintain a spirit of generosity. “Spread love,” Lathitha says with a smile. “You never know where it might take you. And don’t expect anything in return—expectations can lead to disappointment.”
Will’s story is proof 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.
