GEORGE NEWS - Ten years ago, Gladys Mgugunyeka experienced a stroke, after which she lost the use of her legs. Since then, from the age of three, her now 13-year-old son had to help his mommy with basic chores.

Ntandazo, now a young teenager, has silently suffered with his mom, trying to cope with the cleaning of the house, emptying of night buckets and cooking, and bearing the wrath of ridicule from other children in the neighbourhood.
Gladys and Ntandazo received the George Herald and the George APD (Association for People with Disabilities) at their humble home in Thembalethu last week. With the help of the APD, Gladys will hopefully receive some help from George Municipality to make her house more accessible and wheelchair friendly.
The only toilet in the vicinity is outside the house and totally unaccessible for Gladys in her wheelchair.

With the help of her church, Service to Glory Ministries of Thembalethu, Gladys has had a ramp installed from her front door to the yard. Unfortunately the angle of the security gate at her front door makes it impossible for her to leave the house.
Bound to the bed and her wheelchair, Gladys hopes for official help to alleviate her and her son’s plight. Although health care workers of Thembalethu Hospital make their rounds once a fortnight, it never extends further than casual conversation over the gate to enquire about her general well-being.

Two weeks ago, Gladys tried to commit suicide. She has since promised her pastor, Amos Moyikwa, and a very concerned community worker, Ndumi Mbanjana, that she will try and look at the bright side of life - but it is difficult and joy seems to be evading her life.

For donations of food, clothes or any other kind of help, kindly contact Ndumi on 073 533 1015 or George APD on 044 878 0063.

Article and photo: Michelle Pienaar