Standerton father of son in wheelchair is left in the dark
“My boy is unhappy and asks when he is going back to school,” the father said. “He knows he is paralysed.
The plight of a father with a paraplegic son, has not been addressed as yet.
The Standerton Advertiser gave front page coverage to the child, who fell under a tree at school, and is now paralysed.
In its edition of February 4, the parent spoke about his child’s scholastic future and the way things were handled at the school.
The identity of the child is withheld on the father’s request.
An incident at a primary school on November 12 last year was the beginning of the traumatic experience.
The father visited the offices of the newspaper, on our request, again on Thursday, February 3.
He has just returned from Standerton Hospital to have a doctor see to his son’s wounds.
Polytraumatic injuries were sustained to the brain, legs and spine of the boy and he underwent an operation.at Witbank Hospital.
The newspaper contacted the school on January 20 and the call went to voicemail.
A call was made on Friday, February 4 at 7:37 to the school on the number available to the newspaper.
The attempt proved fruitless due to possible connection problems.
The spokesman of the Department of Education, Mr Jasper Zwane, was also contacted previously and the newspaper resent the WhatsApp-message of January 26 on February 3.
According to the father, he signed a report at the HOD of the Department of Education and requested the available CCTV-footage of the incident.
He has not received the footage, as promised.
The man said that the situation must be addressed by the department, providing a care worker and home schooling to be introduced.
He works shifts and when returning home, he has to care for his son whether it is a day – or night shift.
“I am tired and sometimes fall asleep during the night,” he added.
“My son has to be turned in bed every hour to prevent bed sores.”
The area they stay in has been without water supply since Monday and water has to be fetched.
“My boy is unhappy and asks when he is going back to school,” the father said.
“He knows he is paralysed.
“I don’t have answers.”
Additional expenses are the order of the day such as nappies, petrol and painkillers.
No comment was received from the school, nor the department, when going to press.
