By Buziwe Nocuze
- Lungiswa Mtamzeli, 40, from Khayelitsha uses her R2,300 disability grant to pay rent, doctors’ visits, electricity, support for her daughter and groceries.
- She bakes her own bread, eats meat once a week, and has an understanding landlord who lets her pay half rent when unexpected expenses come.
Lungiswa Mtamzeli, a 40-year-old woman from Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, tries to cover her bills with her R2,300 disability grant.
“The money is not enough, but I am surviving because I only buy the basics. I had to forget about eating a lot of things I would love to eat, but the money doesn’t allow it,” said Mtamzeli.
With the R2,300 grant, she pays R400 for doctors’ appointments, R500 for rent, R300 for electricity, R300 for her child who stays in the Eastern Cape with her grandmother, and R150 for funeral cover.
She then buys groceries with the remaining R650.
Mtamzeli became disabled after doctors amputated her foot following a severe wound that became infected.
“There was no other choice than cutting it. I use R400 for transport when visiting the doctors and physio three times a month,” she said.
Her 14-year-old daughter stays in the Eastern Cape because her grandmother asked for her, as she did not want to stay alone.
The money left after covering everything goes to groceries. She buys a combo from Boxer for R329 that includes 10kg of rice, maize meal, and flour. She then buys four tins of pilchards for R98.
“I check which supermarket is selling 2 liters of cooking oil at the cheapest price. I also buy chicken for R100, onions and tomatoes for R40, and sugar. With what’s left, I look for the cheapest roll-on, dishwashing liquid, and body spray,” said Mtamzeli.
On other days, she buys cabbage and eats it with rice and gravy made from tomatoes and onions.
“I eat meat once a week so it lasts a little longer. Most of the time, I make tomato and onion gravy with bread I bake myself using the flour, because I can’t afford to buy bread,” said Mtamzeli.
When unexpected expenses come up, she speaks with her landlord.
“I am fortunate to have a very understanding landlord who knows my situation. If something comes up, I tell her everything and ask to pay half the amount. Sometimes I buy less electricity,” said Mtamzeli.
She has had to give up red meat, sausages, polony, eggs, and coffee.
“I was working before, getting piece jobs that allowed me to at least have red meat once a month. But I cannot do that now. This is new to me because my foot was cut off at the beginning of 2024,” said Mtamzeli.
Pictured above: Khayelitsha.
Image source: File
