Picture: Patricia Sesoko (53) with her grandson, Tshiamo (5)

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The Sesoko family at Molelema village in Taung was left dejected after the North West Social Development department allegedly failed them. Patricia Sesoko (53) said they are in need of a ‘special wheelchair’ for their grandson, Tshiamo (5) who is suffering from cerebral palsy.

“My grandson was born with cerebral palsy and he needs a special wheelchair. Tshiamo’s condition has not improved since his birth and it is difficult for us. No one is working in the house, so we survive with Tshiamo’s disability grant.

“The clinic is too far and it is difficult for me to take him to the clinic when the needs arise. I have three children and we urge any Good Samaritan for assistance. We’ve requested assistance from the government, however, our plea fell in deaf ears,” Sesoko said.

According to Sesoko, she was forced to go and borrow her father’s wheelchair which is not designed to ferry cerebral palsy patients when taking Tshiamo to the clinic.

A local social activist, Mothibi Makoro said: “We believe that our government should ensure that it caters for the deprived. It is so devastating to see Sesoko family living in this dire condition, while we have government officials sitting comfortably in air-conditioned offices.

“However, I do not blame the ANC-led government for these shenanigans, but public servants. We urge our government to ensure that our people receive basic services such as electricity, water, and sanitation. The family had no electricity in their home and we had to fight for them to get it. Tshiamo is using the device that needs electricity and imagine living without it.”

However, the North West Social Development spokesperson, Petrus Siko said the department has been in contact with the family. Siko further said the ward social worker has also visited the family several times since April this year.

“The ward social worker has compiled a home circumstance report that outlines the needs of the family. Based on the home circumstance report, the social worker has linked the family of the boy with the local municipality to provide them with electricity because the device that the boy is using requires electricity.

“I can confirm that the electricity has been installed with the support of the ward social worker. The boy has been referred to the Taung hospital to undergo physiotherapy. The social worker has also requested the hospital to put the boy’s name on the waiting list of those who are awaiting wheelchairs,” said Siko.

He added that Tshiamo is currently receiving a child support grant from SASSA too. Siko said communities are urged to use ward social workers’ services or visit the nearest service point of the department.

“Furthermore, the department has a school social worker programme which addresses the needs of the learners within the school premises,” he said.

Gina Jansheski, M.D. who is a Board Certified Pediatrician and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics said: “Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological condition caused by brain damage and it is the most common motor and movement disability of childhood.

Cerebral palsy causes a range of disabilities, from mild to severe.”

Anyone who would like to assist the family can contact Patricia Sesoko on 0737198770

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Ka REGINALD KANYANE

Baagi ba feta makgolo a le mararo kwa motsaneng wa Molelema gaufi le Taung ba ikuela go masepala o mogolwane wa Taung (The Greater Taung Local Municipality) go ba neela motlakase mo matlung a bone.

Baagi bano, ba kaile fa ba na le dingwaga-ngwaga ba ikuela go masepala go ba tsenyetsa motlakase, mme masepala o itshela moriti o o tsididi. Mongwe wa baagi ba ba tshakgetseng, Kgotlha Molwantwa are ga e sala a agelwa ntlo ya RDP e e senang motlakase ka ngwaga wa 2009, mme le go fitlha ga jaana ga se ba bone motlakase.

“Pelo tsa rona di botlhoko gonne go thata go tshela ntle le motlakase. Fela se se makatsang ke gore matlo mangwe kwa metseng e tshwana le Kokomeng, Matsheng ga mmogo le kwa Longaneng a tsentswe motlakase le fa a tlile morago. Jaanong re batla go itse gore masepala o re sekisa eng se se kana-kana,” Molwantwa wa tlhalosa.

O mongwe wa baagi, Maria Gaedie yo eleng moruti kwa kerekeng ya Bethlehem Reformed Church o kaile fa kereke ya gagwe ena le dingwaga di feta 15 e sena motlakase.

“Ke ile ka ikuela go masepala go ka ntsenyetsa motlakase mo kerekeng yame, mme ke ile ka shwaba nko go feta molomo morago ga gore ba nkaele go se matshwanedi gore dikereke di nne le motlakase.

“Jaanong go thata fa re na le dikonferense le dikolobetso kwa kerekeng gonne ga rena motlakase. Re kopa masepala o dire ka natla gore le rona re nne le motlakase. Dithapo tsa motlakase di feta fela fa thoko ga kereke, mme gore bothata ke eng re sa tsenyediwe motlakase ga re itse,” Gaedie wa tlhalosa.

Moeteledipele wa baagi, Mothibi Makoro are se se botlhokwa ke gore puso e nne le barongwa ba ba siameng mme ba bee dikgatlhego tsa baagi kwa pele. Makoro are ba ikuela go baeteledipele kwa masepala go etela baagi mme ba ba tlhalosetse gore matsapa di a tsaya kae.

“Re eletsa gore baagi enne bone ba ba tlhopang baeteledipele ba ba tla ba emelang jaaka barongwa pusong. Seo se tlile go fedisa ngodiego le botsokunapi mo go direleng setshaba. Jaanong re ikuela go mmusa-kgotlha wa masepala, Ebusang Tladi gore a tle le mokhanselara wa kgaolo, Nosi Ntasi mme ba tlhalose gore ke mabaka afe a a dirileng gore baagi ba Molelema ba be ba sena motlakase mo ngwageng one wa dichelete,” Makoro wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, mmusakgotlha wa masepala o mogolwane wa Taung, Ebusang Tladi are: “Jaaka masepala, re ne re solofetse gore mafelo a a tshwanang jaaka Molelema, Kokomeng ga mmogo le mafelo a mangwe a tla be a bone motlakase go ya ka tsela e re ile ra atlegenisa thulaganyo ya matlo ka teng. Re ne re na le metse e feta masome a le mabedi le botlhano (25) e e ne e tshwanetswe ke go tsenngwa motlakase.

“Se se ile sa diragala ke gore katlenegiso eo ya mafelo a a ne a tshwanetse gore a tsenngwe motlakase, a ne a romelwa kwa Eskom jaaka ele batlamedi ba motlakase. Jaaka re tlhaloganya gore Eskom le yone e bona madi go tswa kwa lefapheng la maatla, ba feleditse ba bone ledi le le sa lekanang, jaanong seo sene sa ama mafelo a re ne re a atlenegisitse jaaka masepala. Mafelo a a sa tsenngwang motlakase a tlile go ka tsenngwa mo thulaganyong ya ngwaga o o latelang wa dichelete.”

Tladi o kaile fa ba setse ba emetse karabo go tswa kwa Eskom go ba tlhalosetsa gore ke metse efe e e tla amogelang motlakase mo ngwageng o o latelang wa dichelete.

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