Plea for disabled daughter

I HAVE in some of my self-published books written a lot about my disabled daughter’s state of health with the desire to arouse the interest of my readers, but to no avail. I have also tried the trick of speaking about it at public platforms where senior government officials were present and this did not help either.

I remember how at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg I was approached by two officials who were gracious enough to take my details after my presentation. But I can say that I was never visited. I wonder how the government can claim to care for the disabled when such cries from its citizens are neglected.

I shall begin with her hereditary diagnosis and the fact that a senior doctor believed there was another, simpler way. This to me means that there is a possibility that whoever arrived at the decision to operate on her back, took the wrong option.

The second assumption is that her condition is hereditary, meaning that she obtained it from the family. I have therefore, through the medium of my books, divulged my slow condition to achieve my milestones as a child with my mother giving up on my ability to walk. My grandmother was also afflicted with a disability to walk in her old-age until she died.

My attempts to argue this case with the Human Rights Commission are not resulting in any positive outcome because of the relevant legislation that has been prescribed. It seems that this case should have been brought to the attention of the authorities within two years after the operation. Our argument is that no need arose to do that in that space of time. It was only after about five years that she started complaining of pains from the operation on her back and foot. This determination further implies that we did not observe our duty to care for her as her parents. This we reject with contempt.

Obviously as receivers of government pension we are not in a position to access the highest courts in this country to argue this case, but are ready to give evidence if required to do so.

I wish to appeal to all those who consider it their duty to help the powerless, to assist my daughter and alleviate her suffering in this regard. — Mxolisi Toyitoyi, Dimbaza, King William’s Town

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