Nonjabulo Dlamini
Nonjabulo and her grandmother, receiving food parcels from Woza Moya
Nonjabulo is a young girl of 12 years old. As an infant, a drip was inserted incorrectly at Christ the King ( Ixopo ) hospital. This left her blinded in one eye. Her mother was ashamed of her daughter's appearance and abandoned her. Nonjabulo was taken in by another woman relative in Pietermaritzburg. Some years later Nonjabulo's grandmother, who lives here in Chibini, discovered that she was being abused in this household. This woman had not put Nonjabulo in school, as promised. Nonjabulo was apparently being treated like a slave; doing all the housework and taking care of the younger children. She was also being sexually abused. Despite the grandmother's very poor situation, she insisted on Nonjabulo being brought back to her, in Chibini. Nonjabulo returned to live here with her grandmother when she was 10 years old and entered Grade 1 at Lusiba Primary School. TC Ngcobo at Lusiba School alerted us to this situation. TC also reported that Nonjabulo was continually subjected to teasing by the other students because of her appearance. On visiting Nonjabulo and her grandmother at their home we discovered a sad situation. Food was a daily struggle for them. The grandmother's eye sight had deteriorated to such an extent that she was only able to see light and dark blurs. Despite her not being able to see she was making building blocks from mud when we found her. She was literally feeling her way around this work. The rondavel they lived in lacked even the bare necessities.
Jane Nxasana ( WM Ground Manager ) accompanies Nonjabulo to Edendale Hospital
We took both Nonjabulo and her grandmother to the visiting eye specialist, Dr Sello Mokoena, who comes to Ixopo twice a month. Dr Mokoena was unable to do anything about the grandmother's eyes but was able to write a referral letter for her to apply for a Disability Grant. Nonjabulo was referred to Edendale hospital, in Pietermaritzburg, where he recommended a glass eye be fitted. Two women retreatants, Lael Bethleham and Emilia Potenza, who visit the Buddhist Retreat Centre often, came forward on hearing the story of Nonjabulo, and offered financial support for this operation.
The operation was a great success. Nonjabulo's new look has transformed her personality. From a frightened, insecure, timid girl she is now often seen laughing and playing with the other children in the community. Her grandmother also now receives a Disability Grant which has a least helped them to put food on the table.