Kabelo Tlhabanelo
When Tshediso Mophethe could no longer live with the rats in his shack, he moved his partner and his children to her parents’ house so that he could fight the rodent scourge with rat poison.
But that’s when his bad dream turned into a nightmare when the rats feasted on his feet and toes!
Tshediso, from Caleb Motshabi in Mangaung, treated his injuries at home. But when the pain became unbearable he went to the hospital, where he was told it was too late to save his leg.
His leg was amputated in July last year and now he is unable to do odd jobs, like cleaning people’s yards, for extra money.
The father of two told Scrolla.Africa he gets a R1,900 Sassa grant.
“People used to send me to shops and asked me to clean their yards to get extra money. Now I can’t do that anymore,” he said.
“My two children are no longer getting pocket money for school and the groceries are finished before the end of the month.”
He said he needs an artificial leg so that he can continue with odd jobs.
“I’m still fit and capable,” he said.
His partner Dieketseng Pitso said they didn’t have a problem getting through the month when he could do odd jobs.
“He got a wheelchair but it doesn’t help him do those chores,” said Dieketseng.
Neighbour Seun Motswari said they sent Tshediso to the shops for supplies, and shop owners asked him to offload stock from their vans.
“He no longer gets my R10 for going to the shops,” said Seun.
Free State Health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi advised Tshediso to go back to the hospital where artificial limbs are free.
“He will need to be assessed to check if his health might have changed. He should also be checked that his leg can stand the pressure,” said Mvambi.
