Mackson Kubai (90) is currently staying in a dilapidated two-room house with his two grandchildren. The house has a broken door and the roof is leaking, making it a nightmare to sleep in during rainy and cold nights. Two of his children are staying in the N’wamitwa area with their relatives as the situation at home does not allow for them to be there. Both have lost their jobs on farms and are currently not in a situation to build a decent home for their father.

The Zillah Foundation, which is a sports rural development organisation, visited the family and found the situation to be dire. According to founder of the foundation, Sello Manyama, the old man really needs assistance because “he basically has nothing”. “Although this matter is not what we usually deal with as an organisation, we felt the need to help the family. “We wrote letters to various businesses asking for assistance.

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“So far there are no donors have come forward to assist, but we still ask for anyone who can help the family to do so. “There are no beds, they are sleeping on the floor,” he said. Anyone who wants to assist can contact Tintswalo Shipalana on 015 590 4400/4409 or email her on emelda@herald.co.za as the man does not have a phone of his own. They can also contact Gloria, their neighbour, on 079 481 9268 or Sello Manyama on 060 7107 295.