You Gave Me A Gift I Will Never Forget

BY NOMFUNDO XULU-LENTSOANE

83-year-old Martha Mbonambi, was relaying her challenges to the DSD News team during the department’s humanitarian outreach in Mtubatuba, Kwa-Zulu Natal on 21 December 2023.

Community members received food parcels, just in time for Christmas after floods in October 2023 resulted in over 130 homes in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality being destroyed. The vast majority of the homes that were destroyed were in the KwaMyeki and Somkhele communities.

The food parcels, which were donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Action Development, contained necessities including maize meal, rice, tin stuff, sugar, milk, and tea bags. “This means my family will be able to have something to eat for Christmas. I lost six houses in my homestead during the floods. I am too old to work and although two of my four children are employed, they also have their own families and responsibilities,” said the grandmother of eight.

Gogo Mbonambi lives with her one daughter and a grandson. “My daughter, who suffered a stroke, is the one taking care of me and bathing me. I can no longer do this myself. I have sugar diabetes so she also makes sure that I go to the clinic and that I take my medication. I forget sometimes but she is always there to help me,” she explained.

Her family said Gogo depends on her grant in the main, and her daughter’s R350 goes toward them being able to get toiletries. Gogo’s SASSA Older Persons’ Grant supports the family with food, maintaining the roof over their heads, and helping her get transported to the clinic for check-ups and to collect medication. “Although I was not on the list of the people who were selected to receive the food parcel today, I am grateful to the Department of Social Development for assisting me. This is a blessing. I took a chance by coming here and my prayers were heard. Ngiyabonga,” concluded Gogo Mbonambi.