Internet aunts and uncles send young viral horse rider to the Royal Cup

by Nomonde Simelane

It has been exactly two weeks since X (formerly Twitter) user Sello Makutle shared a mesmerising video of a young boy, who was identified as Tumisang, as he was joyfully riding his horse along a road in Lesotho. After a collective effort from strangers on the internet, Tumisang was able to attend the Royal Cup at Mohale’s Hoek.

This story will melt even the coldest of hearts, and it begins with an innocent and unsuspecting user, Sello, who took a video of Tumisang as he and his horse galloped through an unidentified area in Lesotho. In the video, Tumisang displays great riding skills, despite his young age.

Speaking to TimesLive, Sello said, “When I posted the video of Tumisang, I knew nothing about the Royal Cup. People started mentioning it in the comments, and that’s when I reached out to the organisers. They guaranteed to help him if we could get him to the event. Tumisang will not participate in the competition itself but will showcase his riding skills at the main event in the presence of the king and other honorary members.”

Taking to his social media, Sello enlisted the help of many internet aunts and aunties, to make Tumisang’s dream a reality.

The update we have all been waiting for has finally come through after Sello explained that Tumisang had enough funds to transport his horse through the country to make an appearance at the prestigious annual event. Not only did Tumisang get to experience the Royal Cup firsthand, but he was also awarded a few prizes by the queen and event organisers.

Sello expresses how emotional the whole experience was for young Tumisang, as he had never imagined himself with that kind of opportunity. The next step, according to Sello is finding Tumisang a mentor who will hone in and improve his already impressive skills.

Those who were able to witness the story from the beginning rushed to the comments to commend Sello for his selflessness, as well as give credit to those who assisted in any way they could, echoing the true spirit of ubuntu that many South Africans are guided by.

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