THE exact time and date will forever be etched in his memory: 6.04pm on 12 August 2022 - the moment he became a father and could finally put the heartache of the past decade behind him.
His son, Manoah Jayden, is the greatest gift he's ever received, Vusidiva Nxumalo says, gazing down at his tiny son. And his existence wouldn't have been possible without the selfless sacrifice of his sister, Tsakani (32).
She had always vowed she wouldn't carry another child. When she was pregnant with her son, Jayden (8), she was horribly ill and didn't ever want to put her body through that again.
But seeing her brother with her child helped her change her mind.
"Vusi was such a wonderful uncle to my son and he had a burning desire to become a father.
"I realised these things are bigger than just myself. I was able to give him what he has been wanting for so many years.
Tsakani stepped in as a gestational surrogate for Vusi (41) after he'd been through years of surrogacy experiences that had all ended in failure and disappointment.
Her gift is a beautiful little boy with curious eyes and a cry that ensures he's always the centre of attention.
"Smile for the uncle," Vusi says when his son starts to moan during our visit at his home in Northriding, Johannesburg. "Show him how cute you are! Never mind, you're always cute, even when you cry."
He'll forever be grateful to his sister, Vusi tells us. Tsakani selflessly put her body on the line again - and although this pregnancy was even harder than her first and she was plagued by nausea and exhaustion, the result was well worth it, she says.
Her brother's struggle to become a dad had moved her, she adds. "I could see he was mourning. He was depressed and avoiding his loved ones. When I asked him about it one day, I realised that even those closest to him could only see the tip of the iceberg of his troubles.
Denne historien er fra 15 September 2022-utgaven av YOU South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra 15 September 2022-utgaven av YOU South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BALLON IN THE BAG
Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football
IT WAS ALL A LIE
A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country
AGREE TO DISAGREE
Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book
PAUSE THE CLOCK
Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down
MPOOMY ON TOP
We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court
MATT THE RECLUSE
A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight
A LEAP OF FAITH
After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it