At 79, an elderly wheelchair-bound grandmother in Thembelihle faces hunger, darkness and the daily challenges of living with arthritis without consistent care or basic household necessities.
Having lived in Thembelihle for 12 years, the grandmother, born in 1947, struggles to cook, clean and care for herself because of her limited mobility. Without electricity, a stove or a refrigerator, she sometimes goes to bed hungry and spends her nights in darkness. “I survive by God’s grace,” she said, expressing gratitude that nobody has attempted to break into her home despite the lack of electricity.
However, living in darkness leaves her frightened, particularly because she cannot safely move around independently. “I am scared to light a candle because what if it catches fire? I cannot help myself,” she explained.
Although she has a daughter and grandchildren, they are reportedly not consistently available to care for her. A neighbour sometimes helps, but her needs remain largely unmet. Concerns have also been raised about her access to her SASSA grant. Community members have helped make her home more spacious, but she still needs food, electricity, adult diapers, essential appliances, reliable care and a suitable wheelchair.
At 79, her story highlights the importance of protecting vulnerable older people and ensuring they can live with dignity, safety and support.Her circumstances are a reminder that vulnerable older people can be struggling behind closed doors, sometimes without the consistent support required to meet their most basic needs.
For this grandmother in Thembelihle, access to electricity, regular meals, a suitable wheelchair and dependable assistance would mean more than material relief. It would offer greater safety, comfort and the dignity every older person deserves.
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