Durban cancer patient pleads for help
His wife Michelle Maniram said the living conditions are unhealthy for a man with a terminal illness and she complains about not getting help.
A terminal illness in not the only battle being fought by Durban resident, Troy Heymans, who has to endure living in a vandalised council flat without electricity or water.
Heymans, who was diagnosed with lung and bone cancer, and his wife, Michelle Maniram were forced to move into the flat at No 1 Eindenberg Court Kirkwood Gardens Stamford, Greyville, after they lost their former house and were left stranded.
Shedding light on the circumstances that led to their current situation, Maniram said, “We use to live in Campbell Avenue, Durban. A person took over the house and we were practically stranded. We had no option, my spouse found a place and spoke to a guy who was supposed to be the owner of the flat. We were so desperate so we took the room. He told us that in three months the corporation (municipality) will come and fix up everything. We later found out the flat belonged to his grandmother who died.”
“We went to the housing department to apply for a house because my husband has lung and bone cancer. We have no water or electricity. We have also written letters to the Human Rights Commissioner and the Social Department but they never get back to us,” said Maniram.
According to Maniram, apart from her husband’s deteriorating condition he is also disabled. She fears, in the near future, she won’t be able to bath him using the small plastic basin they are forced to use.
“We illegal tenants. The man was not supposed to rent the place out after his grandmother died but he continued to stay.
We are paying R1300 per month as that’s we can afford. We used to pay him R800 per month until a couple of months ago,” added Maniram.
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Heymans, who has been disabled for 20 years, said, “People look at me like I am a job. I just want people to open their heart and listen to me please. To have a disability and to have cancer is not a joke.”
Greyville resident, Goery Khan, who lives in another flat close to the couple, said the flat is not a good place for Heymans to be in.
“If he gets more sick, he can’t use that toilet. There’s no bathroom and no water. They go outside for water. I do their washing and allow them to bath at my house. They can’t continue living like this. It is really bad here,” said Khan.
“We have been looking for a flat for two years now. We are pleading for help, please hear our cries. It is really unbearable,” said Maniram.
Berea Mail’s attempts to contact the owner of the flat proved futile.
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