JERUSALEM – There’s an African saying that parents should take good care of their children so that they can, in turn,  look after them when they are old and frail. But this was not the case for a mentally disturbed woman in her late 50s, whose body was discovered by the community last Thursday.

According to her neighbours, Ms Anna Thwala had been living alone in an RDP house for years, with no one visiting her or checking if she was fine even although she had children who were doing well. She would beg for food daily and her neighbours became concerned when no one had seen her for two days.

“Anna would wake up, ask for food and take a walk every day. I became worried when I had not seen her for two days. I then decided to go and check on her and when I opened the door, I could not tolerate the smell. I went to call the other community members,” said one of her neighbours.

Thwala had seemingly been living in squalor – her house resembled a dumping site and eye witnesses reported that the stench had been unbearable.

Community members said they had been unaware of her living conditions. “If we had known that this woman was living in this dump, we could have done something to assist her,” said one.

Thwala’s family members threatened to sue the newpaper for taking photos of the filthy condition of the house.

“This is our mother and you are not allowed to come in here and do as you please. It is our responsibility to protect her now that she cannot speak for herself,” they argued.

Asked why they had not taken care of her when she was still alive, they said it was a matter between them and the deceased.

Spokesperson for health and social development, Mr Ronnie Masilela, advised members of the public who suspected that an individual might be neglected, to contact local social workers.

“In such cases, they will track the person’s family down or refer them to a centre where they can live with other people and participate in activities that will keep them busy,” added Masilela.

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