Katlehong mother pleads for wheelchair donation for son
The family seeks a wheelchair donation. With all family members unemployed it is extremely tough for the Mawelele family to provide a wheelchair to their paralysed son.
Reeareina Mawelele (46) from Zonkizizwe, Katlehong, is desperately seeking assistance with a wheelchair donation to help improve her 23-year-old son Paulito Chiehaza’s mobility.
Chiehaza has been wheelchair-bound since 2020 after he was involved in an accident that left him paralysed.
According to Mawelele, her son left home in the afternoon around 17:00 to visit his friend at Ext 6 on October 20, 2019.
She said she could not explain what transpired as she was not at the scene. A minibus taxi struck her son while crossing Dihlabakela Road from Zonkizizwe.
He was admitted to Thelle Mogoerane Hospital’s intensive care unit for several days before being moved to a step-down unit and eventually to the regular hospital for the rest of the month.
He was discharged and later readmitted for another month after the doctors found that his body condition was still tenuous.
Chiehaza’s life completely changed after he was discharged; his speech was impaired and he could no longer walk or stand.
“The hospital provided him with a free wheelchair, which he has been using for almost three years. However, Chiehaza has outgrown the wheelchair. His legs touch the floor when he sits on it because the footplate and the leg-rest have been damaged,” said Mawelele.
“It has now reached its span. The components, trims and wheels of the wheelchair are worn out. The backrest was also damaged and replaced with cardboard.”
Chiehaza could not claim from the Road Accident Fund that could have been of great assistance to access equipment and resources that can help in his situation.This is because he does not have a South African identity document (ID), and his mother is originally from Mozambique.
According to information published on the RAF website, one of the required documents in the first step in claiming from the RAF is a certified copy of the claimant’s ID and a certified copy of the injured’s ID (if different from the claimant).
However, Chiehaza was born in South Africa in 2000, but because his mother does not have a South African ID, she could not register one for her son.
He is the third of five children. He has three brothers aged between 28 and 17 and a sister aged 25.
None in the family is employed. They rely on the firstborn son’s hustle from construction and gigs.
For a person who uses a wheelchair either due to an accident or illness, a wheelchair represents freedom for them.
The family is calling on Good Samaritans, corporates and local businesses for assistance. Those with the means to assist and wish to help change Chiehaza’s situation may contact Mawelele at 078 1910101.
