Helplessness has gripped the community of Mlindazwe as a mysterious, debilitating illness continues to ravage a single family, leaving five of its members across three generations with a gradual loss of speech and mobility.
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla visited the Zulu family yesterday, pledging government support to alleviate their suffering. The affected individuals, aged 57, 38, 30, 20, and 14, are all descendants of the resilient family matriarch and primary caregiver, Ntombi Zulu.
What began as a rare disability affecting her children has now tragically spread to her grandchildren, casting a dark shadow over the family’s future. The plight of the Zulu family came to the attention of the DPM through Sibusiso Mbingo, the Director of Micro-Projects and a resident of Mlindazwe.
Deeply moved by their situation, Mbingo implored Dladla to witness the devastating impact of the illness firsthand. In a compassionate response, the DPM has committed to constructing a proper home for the family and enrolling two of the affected children in a vocational school in Ezulwini.
With her voice heavy with sorrow, Ntombi shared her agonising story. Of her eight children, four have passed away. Of the four who remain, only one is able-bodied and tirelessly strives to provide for the family. The other three, along with two of Ntombi’s grandchildren, have succumbed to the baffling condition.
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“Sadness increases on me due to the situation of the children. I question myself why this strange illness keeps reoccurring because I had gotten used to the three children with this illness. Now, I ask myself why this tends to go on. When I take them to the hospital, doctors tell me they are unwell — the condition is the same,” Ntombi lamented.
She recounted the painful experience of one of her children being bullied out of a vocational school in Manzini due to his disability. Despite the challenges, Ntombi expressed gratitude that one of her grandchildren was accepted into a local school, aligning with the Government of Eswatini’s call for the inclusion of children with disabilities.
She mentioned that another child began showing symptoms in Grade VII. The family currently receives disability grants from the government, which have been a vital lifeline. Ntombi’s biggest worry, however, is the future of her children when she is no longer able to care for them.
“My main worry is that when I pass on, who will my children remain with?” she shared, her eyes welling up. “God has blessed me with love for my children. I am a doting parent and love them too much, such that with the elderly grant I receive from the DPM’s office, I share it among them just to make them happy. I even refer to them as my own friends. I try so hard not to let this get to me because I suffer from hypertension.”
The family’s survival hinges on the sole able-bodied child’s efforts, supplemented by Ntombi’s elderly grant. With remarkable resilience, Ntombi uses a portion of her grant to purchase seedlings and grow vegetables for consumption. This year, her efforts yielded four 25kg bags of maize, which were processed into mealie-meal.
Responding to the family’s heartbreaking plea, the DPM affirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to their well-being. “As government, we will do everything in our power to ensure that the Zulu family gets all the support they need,” she stated.
Dladla reiterated the office’s pledge to enroll one of the children in a vocational school and extended heartfelt appreciation to the Director of Micro-Projects for his compassion towards the disabled. She also commended His Majesty the King for his continued care for the people of Eswatini, assuring the public that the DPM’s office will continue to prioritise their welfare.
