MBOMBELA – The miserable life of a lonely 76-year-old man who used to live in a dilapidated shack on a farm in Schagen, has taken a happy turn with joy and laughter after he was reunited with his family, all thanks to Mpumalanga News.
On December 17 last year, the paper published the touching story of Mkhulu Elliot Mfaleni Dladla, who used to be a beggar near the local shops and neighbourhood, and did any form of piece job for food. This is after he was left behind on the farm many years ago by his partner.
The local community development worker, Mr Zack Matsebula informed this newspaper about Dladla’s plight, hence his story was published both in our printed edition and online. It was after our article that a family member who resides in Katlehong, Gauteng saw the article and made arrangements to meet with the old man. “They were so happy to be reunited with an elderly person from their own family.
“It was all tears of joy when they met. They had taken him to hospital after finding that he accidentally burnt himself with hot water.
“He had been discharged from hospital and the Dladlas took him to their home where and they vowed to take care of him for the rest of his life,” explained Mathebula.
Mathebula urged other families to take care of their aged family members. “Elderly persons need to be taken care of as they are the fountain of knowledge and have played a major role in the country’s independence,” he said.
Mr Simon Dladla, from the Dladla Royal House in Katlehong, said the family felt so blessed to have mkhulu living with them, mostly because their own parents died years ago so they consider mkhulu as a blessing from God. “His a family because he is a Dladla, umuntu waka Dladla akafanelanga ukuthi ahlupheke sibe sikhona, owakithi simuntu munye.
“He had been warmly welcomed by traditional leader Inkosi Jobha Dladla, we will take a good care of him. We thank the newspaper so much for the role they had played. Siyabonga kakhulu,” he said.
