Man’s plea for help
THABISO Qebe of Lady Frere is desperate for help.
Qebe, 38, suffers from sores or ulcers on his legs and sits at home all day.
He can not work as his lower legs are covered in ulcers and have to be dressed regularly.
The problem has been part of his life for over 28 years and in 2007 he quit his job in Cape Town and returned to Lady Frere as the condition became progressively worse.
He has sought help at Glen Grey Hospital, Frere Hospital, Cecilia Makhiwane Hospital and Natalspruit Hospital in Gauteng, but to no avail.
Qebe said the ulcers first appeared in 1987. There was an improvement in 1994, but while cultivating maize, the condition returned. He had to leave school due to the ulcers, which started appearing again in 1997. He started taking a herbal medicine which, he claimed, made the sores increase in size. “In East London they said the sores were caused by veins and when I went to Natalspruit Hospital I was told they were ulcers. I have tried everything and everywhere I go people are guessing. They do not know what I am suffering from.”
His life is marked by pain. “I can not wear shoes or walk a long distance.”
He stopped travelling to East London hospitals after he was given medication which did not even last a week. For the past five years he has been dependent on his wife’s salary. “I am a man, I need to work and feed my family.”
His wife, Nondiliseko, said if the family does not have ointment or bandages, his condition deteriorates. “It is hard to fight something that you do not know. I can not imagine the pain he is living in, sometimes I just cry.”
The family is hoping for a doctor to give them advice or aid on a cure or treatment. Anyone able to help can contact Tembile Sgqolana on 071-851 9216 or email him on tembiles@timesmedia.co.za.