Death strikes the Obonetse family

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Monday April 12, 2010 00:00

The family, which has two handicapped boys, Dimpho and Maikano has lost the boys father who died last week after a long illness. Kgotsong Obonetse, the boys mother said her husband has been in and out of hospital since 2007.

The deceased was buried over the weekend in Mogorosi village near Serowe. Obonetse explained that her husband used to be an employee of BCL Mine before joining M and P Electrical. He was also the sole breadwinner of the family.

'I am lost without my husband. He was the pillar of my strength and right now things have fallen apart. My family is in crisis and I struggled to bury him,' she said.

Obonetse has been left to take care of her kids under tough conditions. Her two boys need special attention and it is hard for the family to provide for them.  The two need specially made wheelchairs because they cannot walk or talk.

They also need nappies to prevent them from soiling themselves. Unlike other normal kids, Dimpho and Maikano are not able to communicate when they want to visit the bathroom despite their ages. Dimpho is 16, while Maikano is 18 years of age.

Selebi-Phikwe Town Council is also unable to provide the boys with nappies because they do not have that provision. The Obonetse family registered at the council as permanent destitutes. 

The Selebi-Phikwe Town Council Public Relations Officer, Ogomoditse Gaokgethelwe explained that the local authority has also enrolled the Obonetse family in the Ipelegeng Programme. She said the move was meant to assist her in feeding her family.

'The family is also provided with food rations and cash to cater for their needs. We have provided them with a smart switch card loaded with P426.94 to use at retailing shops. The family is given cash of P81.00 by the council and the money is collected from the post office and Ipelegeng pays her P360.00 per month,' she said.