Woman scrounges bins to feed 11 children
LIFE is unbearable for 50-year-old Philisiwe Mthembu from Macekane Reserve, who survives by collecting food from dustbins in the Empangeni CBD to feed herself and her family.
Mthembu lives in a small, one-roomed house with her 11 children, and walks to town every morning to scrounge for food.
‘When I get home, I wash and cook what I have collected to make a meal for my family.
‘I don’t have an identity book, so my children are not receiving child support grants. Life is hell to me ’ she said.
Mthembu told the ZO that two of her children doing grades four and five were kicked out of school because she failed to prove their identities.
‘I lost my parents while I was 28 and I don’t have any relatives such as uncle or cousins who can help me to get an ID book,’ she said.
Philisiwe explained that when it rains they sit up the whole night because the roof of her house leaks badly.
‘I pray to be sent someone who can assist us with clothing, food and a proper house.
‘We depend on the sun and moon to give us light; we don’t have electricity or even a candle to light at night.
‘Some of my children are grown up, but I have no choice but to share a room with them.
‘Hunger is killing me and my children,’ she said.
Ward 31 Councillor Sipho Ntombela said he was aware of Mthembu’s predicament and is working on solutions.
‘I can assure you that these two children will go back to school when schools re-open this year,’ said Ntombela.
Home Affairs spokesman, Thulani Mavuso, advised Mthembu to go to the nearest Home Affairs offices to explain her problem.
‘Processes need to be followed, and she has to undergo several interviews to prove she is a South African,’ said Mavuso.