The Order of Mendi for Bravery in Bronze

Donald Thumamina Mboto (Posthumous) (1987 - 2010) Awarded for:

A selfless act that led him to lose his life while trying to save a drowning child in St. Michaels Beach in KwaZulu-Natal.

Profile of Donald Thumamina Mboto

Donald Thumamina Mboto was born in Harding near Port Shepstone on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on 10 May 1987, and passed away on 1 January 2010, at the age of 22. He was the ninth child of Thandiwe Daphney Mboto. He attended school in St. Michaels in Kokstad and had not yet secured formal employment at the time of his passing.

A gentle and considerate person whose delight was in helping other people, Mr Mboto became immediately concerned when on the morning of 1 January 2010, he saw a nine-year old girl, unknown to him, struggling in the water at the St. Michaels Beach. Living up to his name, Thumamina (“send me”), without hesitation, jumped into the water to save the child. Although the child lived, his heroic deed cost him his life, as he could not make it out of the ocean. 

He lost his youthful life trying to help and give life to another person and it is this ultimate act of unselfishness which made him to stand out as a recipient of this noble award. We are proud to honour Mr Donald Thumamina Mboto with the Order of Mendi for Bravery in Bronze.