….. Directs that they get paid from the Disability Grant
BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla has come to the rescue of seven siblings from a Mazibuko family, who are living under dire conditions.
Dladla directed that the siblings be registered so that they could be paid under the Disability Grant. This happened today (Wednesday, July 31, 2024). The siblings are living in a place called Mlondozi (New Skom), under Motshane Inkhundla. The DPM was alerted about the situation by Motshane Inkhundla Council, under the leadership of MP Wilton Nkambule.
The siblings are said to be suffering from autism and are living under conditions that are exposing them to bad weather. Motshane is known for being one of the very cold places in the country. That means the siblings are being exposed to the cold, as the houses they live in are dilapidated.
Dladla was shocked to find that the conditions were so dire. She stated that she had attended to many situations that were dire around the country, but she had not come across this one, as it was very difficult. She promised that Government would construct a decent house where they could live, but asked the Motshane Inkhundla, under the leadership of MP Wilton Nkambule, to approach the Nduma Umphakatsi to ask that a piece of land be allocated to the siblings so that the house could be built.
MP Nkambule, when reached for comment on the matter, said they brought the DPM to the area because they knew she was going to rescue the situation. “We brought the DPM because we know that she has a good heart and she wants to see members of vulnerable groups living a good life,” Nkambule said.
He also confirmed that the siblings were living in a farm at New Skom and the farm belonged to Malolotja Nature Reserve. The legislator mentioned that he started working on the matter in December last year and he had pleaded with Malolotja to help on the matter. In response, Nkambule said the Malolotja promised that they could help.
However, even if Malolotja can help allocate some land, Nkambule was of the view that it could be a bit dangerous to allow them to have a house in the farm. “It is better that land for them be secured in Eswatini Nation Land because in a farm, a certain person might buy the farm in future and demand that they should be removed,” he said.
Nkambule said if the siblings were living on Eswatini Nation Land, construction of a proper house would begin even tomorrow (Friday, August 1, 2024). After the Mlondozi incident, the DPM then moved to Mpolonjeni Chiefdom, under Motshane Inkhundla. In that chiefdom, there is a certain teacher, who was identified as Mrs Khumalo.
She is running an informal school, where she teaches certain people, who are classified as slow learners. She is said to have inerited the school from another teacher, who started it, but unfortunately, she passed away. Khumalo is said to be running the school using her own resources, which are also limited. Nkambule said as Inkhundla, they were also thankful to the DPM for taking her time to visit Khumalo. He said they were also grateful to her for promising that she would help Khumalo in improving the school so that the children could learn under improved conditions.
