In a heart-warming turn of events, the long-standing struggles of Siyabonga Jiyane, a 24-year-old Spina Bifida patient, and his mother, Victoria Simelane, have seen a glimmer of hope as the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development stepped in to assess Siyabonga’s pressing needs.

For two years, Siyabonga and his family have been battling to secure the crucial support and resources necessary to cope with his Spina Bifida diagnosis.

Despite relentless pleas for help, Witbank General Hospital had ceased providing the essential supplies, including nappies, which added significantly to the family’s hardships.
The turning point came when WITBANK NEWS, committed to making a difference, reached out to the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development.

Responding to this call for action, social workers and department officials visited Simelane’s home on Thursday, October 26 to conduct a thorough assessment of Siyabonga’s situation.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Simelane shared her emotions, saying, “I am so happy that Social Development came to see my son after WITBANK NEWS shared my story. My son used to receive nappies from the hospital, but it has been two years now without receiving any because the hospital doesn’t supply them anymore. It is a struggle because I am unemployed and rely on Siyabonga’s child social grant. After his father’s passing, things got very bad and worse because he used to help us financially and looked after us.”

Comfort Ngobe, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development, confirmed their active involvement and offered insights into the family’s current situation.

“As the Department of Social Development, we visited the mother at Klarinet and conducted a comprehensive assessment of the situation,” Ngobe explained.

“The assessment revealed that the child is receiving a disability grant, and the mother is receiving a top-up grant.In our efforts to assist, the department advised the mother to take the child to facilities funded by the department. However, for now, she expressed discomfort with this option. Nevertheless, the department will closely monitor the situation and provide support wherever possible.”

Thandi Ngwenya, a dedicated social worker, emphasised the family’s dedication to Siyabonga’s well-being, saying, “The mother is taking good care of Siyabonga. We have been informed that she is receiving a disability grant on behalf of Siyabonga as well as a care dependency. The total amount is R2 500. Our commitment is unwavering, and we will continue to monitor the situation and offer her the necessary assistance she needs.”

Addressing the pressing issue of the nappy supply, Chris Nobela, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Health, acknowledged past challenges and offered a solution.

“There were indeed challenges with the supply of nappies at Witbank Hospital,” Nobela admitted.

“However, the department can now confirm that nappies are readily available. The family should visit the hospital to access the necessary nappies.”

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