Disabled man crawls through life as officials won’t help
Government departments in Limpopo have washed their hands off responsibility for providing a customised wheelchair for a 64-year-old man who lives a life of limited mobility after being crippled by polio when he was six.
Adam Tolo, from ga-Mogashwa village outside Burgersfort, uses one hand instead of two and cannot walk.
“When nature calls, poor Adam is forced to crawl like a snake from the house to a toilet, which is located at the corner of the yard.
“During torrential rains, he crawls through the mud with his torn pants to reach the toilet. But even when in there, he still needs the help of his sister to undress and dress him before and after, “the family said.
Tolo’s sister, Maria Nkosi, said they had repeatedly asked government officials for help to get the customised wheelchair he needs.
“We spoke to everyone – heads of departments, chiefs of staff, chief executive officers of hospitals, directors, managers, mayors, chief whips, speakers and ward councillors.
“But our pleas always fall on deaf ears. We have now come to the conclusion that this government is useless.”
Nkosi said Adam lives with his other sister, Mashianoke Tolo.
“But this has already proved difficult for her since she is unable to hunt for a job to fend for herself and her children.
“All she does is clean up after him, help him bath, dress and undress and take him to bed and to the toilet every day.
“We are pleading with government and the private sector to open their hearts and their wallets to help my brother.
“We will appreciate any sort of help. It can be food parcels, an indoor squat toilet with a septic tank, clothes or even financial aid to pay for a caregiver.”
The family asked The Citizen for help and we approached the Limpopo provincial department of cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs.
But officials there said the matter could best be dealt with by the department of social development.
Departmental spokesperson Witness Tiva had only this to say: “Social workers conducted assessments and found that the client does not require a normal wheelchair, but an electric one.
“Social workers then made recommendations that the client be seen by a physiotherapist to determine the kind of wheelchair needed and this was done.
“It is important to note that the kind of wheelchairs we previously received from a donor are not suitable for his condition.
“Although the provision of wheelchairs is not necessarily the responsibility of the department, we only distribute whenever we receive a donation from a good Samaritan.
“We therefore call on donors to come on board and assist the client to get an electric wheelchair,“he said.