Help Hammarsdale man rebuild his home
Siyabonga Gumede is on a wheelchair and fears that his house will collapse as the bank it builds on is washing away.
A 45-YEAR-OLD wheelchair-bound Hammarsdale resident is having sleepless nights as his house is on a verge of collapse. Due to the excessive rainfall over the past few weeks, the bank on which Gumede house sits is washing away.
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Siyabonga Gumede’s life changed drastically when he was diagnosed with abdominal tuberculosis (TB) in 2017.
After the diagnosis, Gumede suffered with pneumonia and yellow jaundice, which severely impacted his kidney and liver.
The last time Gumede was able to walk was on 29 December 2017.
“I fell and only woke up in hospital on 1 January 2018. I attended physiotherapy but seeing that there was no improvement I had to stop and live with the fact that I would not be able to ever walk again.”
Gumede’s situation caught the attention of the Shap Shap NPO, who took to social media for assistance.
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“We were made aware of the serious situation that Gumede is currently facing with his room when we joined The Gift of the Givers who handed over a brand new wheelchair to him,” said co-founder of the NPO, Bianca Ivankovic. “This really disturbed us especially for someone in his condition. This is the reason we are reaching out to anyone who can help,” she said.
“I am scared, I do not know what to do anymore. I have even shared my story on Facebook to get help. If this house falls I won’t even be able to run away due to my condition,” he said.
Gumede said he is still trying to adjust to his situation as he was able to do things for himself previously.
“It is very difficult, I used to work but now I rely on my 83-year-old mom who has to look after a grown man. Even when I have to go to the clinic, I need to hire a car. I can’t do most things as I am always in pain,” he said.
His mother, Beauty Gumede, who stays in a house in the same property said their house is small and already overcrowded. “Each time it rains, I look out the window to check if his room has not been washed away, I truly hope we get assistance soon,” she said.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
