Pensioner in need of help

EVEN though Francina Mashimbye (84) from Maswanganyi village in Giyani has five children, two girls and three boys, she feels that they have abandoned her to survive as best she can.

Mashimbye survives on a meagre pension, and says she would have been completely alone in the world if it was not for the fact that her youngest daughter, who is not permanently employed, left her child with her to look after.

She says she receives no financial assistance from her children who are permanently employed.

The hut she lives in is in a poor state of repair, and when it rains the water comes pouring into the hut.

An attempt to contact her children in Johannesburg came to nothing, as Mashimbye does not have their contact numbers.

Peter Nkuna, a close relative of Mashimbye, said he was hopeful that government or business people would come forward to assist Mashimbye with a new house.

“She really needs a house urgently because she cannot survive the coming rainy season living in that hut; the rain will finish her off,” he said.