Disabled youngster needs assistance

ALL Siyathemba Hlope has ever known is the floor of his mother’s shack. The structure measuring no more than five feet from wall to wall is home to his mother, Mavis and himself. The 11-year-old who is severely disabled sleeps on the floor of the shack with just two paltry blankets for comfort.

The situation at the Blackburn Village Informal Settlement where the family lives is made even more tragic that his mother, Mavis, who is unemployed, is unable to put food on the table everyday. Despite the best intentions of his mother, the youngster is malnourished and is unable to walk, talk or go to school.

He rarely leaves the confines of the shack because Mavis is unable to carry him. She fears the next shack fire could end in a fatality.

“He has a problem with his spine, he cannot walk, he has the most beautiful smile but I need help to care for him. There was a shack fire not too long ago and I wasn’t with him at the time as I was trying to find work, thankfully the fire didn’t spread as far as our shack. Siyathemba loves to laugh, I just wish I could do more to help him, but I cannot on my own. I don’t have an ID and he doesn’t have a birth certificate so it is impossible to get a government grant,” Mavis said.

uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, said he was so touched by Siyathemba’s story that he put out an appeal on social media.

“Someone has kindly donated a wheelchair for him but he needs help. He has the most amazing smile, and enjoys eating something nice. This young man is my priority, and I just know we can help. A soft toy, some food parcels, nice clothes and eventually a specialized wheelchair so he can be taken out. I want us as a community to help his mother. I would love to be able to arrange a trip for him to uShaka, or to the sea,” he said.

If people are willing to help, email de Boer on durban ward35@gmail.com.