Brother and sister see each other for the first time in 40 years

TRICHARDT – Mr José Macedo (71) saw his sister, Ms Laudet Santana, for the first time in 40 years on Tuesday, 4 December.

Mr Macedo was involved in a vehicle accident in the Transkei years ago and ended up at a farm for homeless people in Port Elizabeth. It was here that he met Mr Hennie and Ms Jackie Fourie who helped out at the farm that was managed by some friends.

“José was working with the pigs on the farm and I helped him to build a pigsty,” said Mr Fourie.

“We were told that José was involved in a vehicle accident and was admitted to a hospital at Kokstad.

“He was in a coma for about three months. When he was released from hospital, he had nowhere to go.”

According to Mr Fourie, Mr Macedo lived in open graves for three years before a woman found him on the beach in Port Elizabeth asking for money or food.

The woman took him to a night shelter in Port Elizabeth and he was taken to the farm.

Mr Macedo was not married and does not have children, but his brother and sister who lived in Durban searched for him. They reported him as missing to the police.

They even hired a private detective to locate Mr Macedo, but to no avail.

“They probably thought he was dead,” said Mr Fourie.

“I think José’s memory took a knock after the accident. When we took him for a haircut, we saw scars on his scalp.”

The Fourie couple decided to move back to the Secunda area after two years on the farm.

“José begged that we bring him with to live with us.”

Mr Macedo lived with the couple for the past six years.

According to Mr Fourie, José remembered working as a crane operator at Durban Harbour.

He was apparently also good at ballroom dancing.

Mr Macedo now suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, he is deaf and one of the doctors that saw him, suspects that he might have cancer.

“His health is deteriorating and he has lost a lot of weight.”

The Fourie’s raised money for Mr Macedo to see a private doctor. They also tried to find accommodation for him in an old age home.

In another attempt to find Mr Macedo’s family, the couple’s daughter, Ms Pippa Solomon, posted photos on numerous Portuguese groups and pages on Facebook.

Ms Santana eventually recognised and claimed him as her brother.

The community sponsored a return bus ticket from Durban to Secunda for Ms Santana to meet her long-lost brother.

It was a big moment for everyone when Ms Santana arrived at Trichardtsfontein Dam.

“She hugged him and asked him: ‘Do you remember me? I am your sister’,” said Mr Fourie.

“José then said he remembers her as a blonde.

“His sister said she could not believe her brother was still alive after all these years.”

Mr Macedo’s brother also saw his photo on Facebook and is planning to visit soon.

Mr Macedo was admitted to a local state hospital on Friday, 7 December.

The Fourie’s found him still in a wheelchair in casualties that night.

The next morning at about 5am the staff apparently gave Mr Macedo magazines to lie on as they did not have enough beds.

Mr Fourie found Mr Macedo in tears and decided to rather take him home.

A Portuguese forum paid for an ambulance and Mr Macedo was eventually taken to a hospital in Johannesburg from where he will be placed in an old age home as soon as he is well enough.

The Fourie’s thanked everyone who donated money and helped Mr Macedo, especially Ms Rosa Maia, Ms Ester and Mr Org Solms, Ms Tersia Kroukamp, Ms Susan Rabie, Ms Estie Smit, Ms Fiona Niekerk Pelman and the Portuguese forums and consulate.