By Botho Molosankwe
The American cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants brought smiles to the faces of children at the paediatric ward of Sunninghill Hospital in Sandton during a brief visit.
The character is in South Africa to attend the premiere of his movie with the same name. He has been in South Africa for two weeks and has already made appearances at the Rand Show and the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town.
Some of the kids, who were excited when they saw their favourite TV show character, said they were thrilled by the visit.
Some said they had recognised SpongeBob SquarePants from his show on SABC TV.
"I was happy when I saw him because I usually watched him on TV," one girl said.
The mother of one of the patients, whose visit coincided with the cartoon character's, said it was great to see the kids happy.
"This makes a big difference to the children because some of their parents are in other countries and unable to visit them," she said.
SpongeBob SquarePants' costume suit was flown from America and the man underneath it is SA's Talent Vezi.
Halima Khan of United International Pictures said the costume cost R25 000.
Khan added that the cartoon character needed two bodyguards to accompany him wherever he went. "He needs to have security around him because of the crowds he pulls wherever he goes. We are also concerned about the costume being damaged."