While her peers run off to play after school, a seven-year-old girl from Bizana has to rush home to take care of her 74-year-old grandmother, who suffers from elephantiasis.
Zizipho Mafuya of Elityeni village, situated about 20km from Bizana, is primary caregiver to her grandmother, Beauty Nomajapan Mafuya.
She has to clean and help change her adult diapers.
Mafuya has been sitting in one spot since December 2013, when her legs weakened to the point where she could not walk anymore.
Before setting off for school, Zizipho has to help her granny relieve herself in a bucket.
The Elityeni Senior Primary School Grade 2 pupil shares a tiny, one-roomed mud home with her grandmother and four others.
Mafuya’s son, Fano, 40, sleeps in a rondavel.
While her older siblings also helped out, Mafuya told the Dispatch that Zizipho was the one who was always there for her.
“She is the only that is not disgusted by me,” she said.
The shy and reserved seven- year-old dreams of being a teacher. She wishes her grandmother could walk again.
“It is nice to stay with her and I enjoy helping her out, but it would be nice if she would walk again or if we can get help from a nurse maybe. I love my grandmother very much and wish she could be healed,” she said.
Zizipho’s cousins, Olwethu and Noxolo, both 16, also help out after returning from school – sometimes as late as 6pm.
Mafuya has to sleep sitting up and simply bows her head because she said her body gets sore when she tries to sleep on her side.
Even when she is transported to hospital, she has to be lifted up by the blanket she sleeps on.
It takes at least six men to lift her, Mafuya said.
“I used to do everything for myself, but now I do not even know how the sun feels like anymore. I am tired of sitting in one place,” she said.
Even though she has been exposed to nursing duties at such a young age, Zizipho does not want to be a nurse or social worker when she grows up, but would rather be a teacher instead.
Elityeni principal Nonzuzo Myele said Zizipho’s grades had taken a knock because she could not concentrate on her studies.
Myele described Zizipho as a child who used to be bright and full of energy.
“But now you can see what is happening at home might have affected her psychologically. Her performance has also been affected,” Myele said.
“I really hope the family can get some help so that she is again able to concentrate on her education. She is too young to have such huge responsibilities.”
The family of seven depends on Mafuya’s social grant for food, schooling and her medication.
Her children, Fano and his brother Language, 40, are mentally ill. Their sisters Nokonwaba, 44, and Nomakhosazana, 34, both left home in the early 1990s and 2000s, respectively, in search of work, and never returned home.
Zizipho and her 13-year-old brother do not have birth certificates.
Mafuya’s neighbour, Vuyiswa Mathena, 56, chips in and helps to feed her during the day, while Fano and Language fetch water and wood for the home.
Social Development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi’s spokesman Mzukisi Solani said regional officials would be sent to assess the situation. — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za
Girl, 7, has to care for gravely ill grandma
Zizipho Mafuya of Elityeni village, situated about 20km from Bizana, is primary caregiver to her grandmother, Beauty Nomajapan Mafuya.
She has to clean and help change her adult diapers.
Mafuya has been sitting in one spot since December 2013, when her legs weakened to the point where she could not walk anymore.
Before setting off for school, Zizipho has to help her granny relieve herself in a bucket.
The Elityeni Senior Primary School Grade 2 pupil shares a tiny, one-roomed mud home with her grandmother and four others.
Mafuya’s son, Fano, 40, sleeps in a rondavel.
While her older siblings also helped out, Mafuya told the Dispatch that Zizipho was the one who was always there for her.
“She is the only that is not disgusted by me,” she said.
The shy and reserved seven- year-old dreams of being a teacher. She wishes her grandmother could walk again.
“It is nice to stay with her and I enjoy helping her out, but it would be nice if she would walk again or if we can get help from a nurse maybe. I love my grandmother very much and wish she could be healed,” she said.
Zizipho’s cousins, Olwethu and Noxolo, both 16, also help out after returning from school – sometimes as late as 6pm.
Mafuya has to sleep sitting up and simply bows her head because she said her body gets sore when she tries to sleep on her side.
Even when she is transported to hospital, she has to be lifted up by the blanket she sleeps on.
It takes at least six men to lift her, Mafuya said.
“I used to do everything for myself, but now I do not even know how the sun feels like anymore. I am tired of sitting in one place,” she said.
Even though she has been exposed to nursing duties at such a young age, Zizipho does not want to be a nurse or social worker when she grows up, but would rather be a teacher instead.
Elityeni principal Nonzuzo Myele said Zizipho’s grades had taken a knock because she could not concentrate on her studies.
Myele described Zizipho as a child who used to be bright and full of energy.
“But now you can see what is happening at home might have affected her psychologically. Her performance has also been affected,” Myele said.
“I really hope the family can get some help so that she is again able to concentrate on her education. She is too young to have such huge responsibilities.”
The family of seven depends on Mafuya’s social grant for food, schooling and her medication.
Her children, Fano and his brother Language, 40, are mentally ill. Their sisters Nokonwaba, 44, and Nomakhosazana, 34, both left home in the early 1990s and 2000s, respectively, in search of work, and never returned home.
Zizipho and her 13-year-old brother do not have birth certificates.
Mafuya’s neighbour, Vuyiswa Mathena, 56, chips in and helps to feed her during the day, while Fano and Language fetch water and wood for the home.
Social Development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi’s spokesman Mzukisi Solani said regional officials would be sent to assess the situation. — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za
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