Times of Eswatini

Family appealing for financial assistance

- %< SITHE0%I/E H/ATSH:A<2

DLANGENI – Eight grandchild­ren are surviving through their grandmothe­r’s E1 500 grant paid after three months.

The eldest child is aged and the youngest is six. The elderly woman puts food on the table through the grant and is also reTuired to pay for their school expenses, including examinatio­n fees for those doing external classes.

The family also lives in a dilapidate­d structure which is collapsing on one side, while other structures do not have doors. Two residents of the area, 0aswa]i *ama and -ames .hanyile, have already contribute­d E Mointly towards the constructi­on of the elderly woman¶s house.

In an interview with Sibongile 'lamini , she said she was living through handouts from good Samaritans as her grant could no longer sustain them. 'lamini said through the grant, she was expected to pay for her hospital fees as she was asthmatic, put food on the table and pay school fees.

She stated that the only source of income was her elderly grant which had become overstretc­hed.

According to 'lamini, three of her grandchild­ren were to sit for their external examinatio­ns in )orm 9 and )orm III.

'lamini said two were sitting for the )orm III examinatio­ns, while the other was expected to sit for the 2¶ /evel.

³I have managed to pay for two of my grandchild­ren half of the examinatio­n fee, while I am hoping to pay for the other one when we receive the elderly grant,” she said.

'lamini said the houses they lived in were old and dilapidate­d and could collapse on them at anytime. She stated that she did not have the resources to maintain the structure as the money she got was used for other important things.

According to 'lamini, before her health condition worsened, she worked with *one 5ural %omake to create handwork. ³The funds received through the sales of my handcraft assisted the family.”

1camiso Tsela, who is the Bucopho in the area, appealed for assistance from members of the public, especially with the constructi­on of a structure as the current ones exposed them to all harsh weather conditions. Tsela also stated that the family had girl children were not safe as they could be attacked and raped.

He appealed for financial assistance to help in paying for the children¶s examinatio­n fees, adding that the elderly woman was overwhelme­d with the responsibi­lities. Such, he said created strain for, her, yet she had other health conditions could be dangerous for her wellbeing.

Tsela said they would appreciate any form of assistance with clothes, food and money.

)urthermore, he added that they would also appreciate building material and the community members would assist with the constructi­on. ³Anyone who may be touched by the plight of the family could lend a hand.” He stated that children were the future generation and anyone who would lend a hand would receive a blessing as the situation was very bad. 0embers of the public who wished to lend a hand to the family can call

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 ?? Sithembile Hlatshwayo) (Pics: ?? Sibongile Dlamini showing the structure they occupied with eight of her grandchild­ren.
Sithembile Hlatshwayo) (Pics: Sibongile Dlamini showing the structure they occupied with eight of her grandchild­ren.

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