The 87-year-old Gakenamotho Mathapa, her 71-year-old daughter, Gabohitlhwe Tumeng and her grand-daughter doing Standard Six at Sefophe Primary School will once again go hungry. Tumeng is the only surviving child of Mathapa out of the eight children she bore. Tumeng told The Monitor that most of their relatives have passed away and they do not know the surviving ones. She said life is very hard for them and they rely on food hands-outs from the council. "We ate meat a long time ago. We survive on phaleche and morogo ya Setswana all the time," she said with sadness in her eyes. She explained that her mother (Mathapa) is the only person who has been included in the destitute programme. "The Council people have refused to register me. The only income that we get is pension but the money is not enough because we use it to pay debts at the local tuck shops. The food that my mother gets is not enough to last the whole month. I do not understand why the council is not willing to register me," she said.
The family stays in a dilapidated grass thatch hut. Tumeng said that they were given a tent by the Bobirwa Sub-District Council two weeks ago when the rains started but they have been advised that it will be taken back anytime. Her mother has been getting her pension and food rations with an expired Omang card. Tumeng explained her mother is unable to walk.
