Old Abandoned Granny Languishes In Backroom

Patricia Maganu
Staff Writer
& Pini Botlhoko
Correspondent | Monday March 1, 2010 00:00

Khumanego Vuvu stays in the one-roomed house in her daughter's yard and says that her children have abandoned her. She says that though she prefers to stay in the village she had to come to town to the Old Pension's Fund office to verify that she is still alive.

She says that sometimes she goes to bed without eating.

'I can spend the whole day hungry without eating and even sleep hungry,' she said.

Vuvu's situation came to The Monitor's attention on Friday when her grandson, Mothataemang Moloi, 40, stormed into the offices in the morning to tell the story of how his grandmother had been abandoned by her children and left to sit and sleep in the door-less backroom.

'I am starving even though I stay with my daughter here she is not doing anything for me,' said Vuvu.

Vuvu lay in the room that had nothing in it except a tub full of dirty old clothes and shoes, no curtains and no door. The old clothes were also scattered on the floor. She was sleeping on the floor and she went on to show the reporters what her ' bed' was made of.

'Look I have spread my dress to sleep on because there are no blankets,' she said.

She has spread a plastic mat, her dress and she has one blanket to cover herself. Next to her bed there is a urinal and an old dirty tumbler that she uses to keep water. 

Moloi told The Monitor that because of his grandmother's situation, last year he approached a social worker and block one councilor for assistance. He said he even suggested to his mother and uncle to register her so she could be assisted but they refused.

He says he cannot afford to look after himself as well as his grandmother as he is working as a night watch man at Department of Building and Engineering Services in Francistown.

'I have two children, renting at Tati siding and everyday I have to take a taxi to work, I don't earn anything at work that could help my family including my grandmother,' he said.

Moloi said because of his family's resistance he then decided to visit the district commissioner.

'It was a shame that the district commissioner told me that there is no way they can help me since they don't have enough resources and added that they do not visit homes.' says a frustrated Moloi.

Efforts to talk to her children proved futile as one was reported to be away and had no phone while for the other the phone kept ringing without being answered.