This is the case after the Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela, in the spirit of the festive season, committed to assisting Bejile Tsayi, who lives alone in an almost dilapidated two-room house with little furniture. 

In a frank interview with the OFM News team, Tsayi, who is also wheelchair-ridden, narrated the story of his everyday struggle after his legs were amputated two years ago due to cancer. This social grant disability recipient pleaded for help and said he is struggling to even go outside to use the sanitation facilities. Tsayi, who is surrounded by medication and other items in close reach, says he desperately needs help.

“I am struggling with a lot of things, I don’t even have electricity and I'm struggling alone. I only use candlelight and sometimes that doesn’t work well. I am asking for help from anyone out there who can help, to please do so. I am alone in this pain and struggle, I need help,” Tsayi added.

He can now breathe a sigh of relief since Premier Sisi Ntombela has committed to help Tsayi in the new year. Ntombela's spokesperson, Palesa Chubisi, told OFM News that the premier is saddened and heartbroken by the news of Tsayi.

“Bathong… this is sad! I’ve just spoken to the Premier about it, she is very heartbroken and this was not brought to her attention. She has, however, committed to look into this matter during the first week of the New Year,” Chubisi said.

Chubisi added that Premier Ntombela is fully committed to building or taking Tsayi to one of the newly built houses.

The matter was brought to the attention of OFM News by one of his neighbours and a friend, Vuyiswa Budaza. She told OFM News that her neighbour and friend has been going through a difficult period after his legs were amputated. She says even her struggle pales in comparison to that of Tsayi's.

“I saw his pain (after he suffered) from cancer and his legs were amputated. His struggles are very painful, I know that I am struggling too but his situation is worse. If a person is wheelchair bound and maybe has a running stomach and has to go to the toilet outside at night with no help from anyone (it then becomes a problem),” Budaza adds.

In August 2021, OFM News also wrote about a Bloemfontein family of seven near the Caleb Motshabi informal settlement, which struggled with issues of sanitation for a few months.

ALSO READ: Family of seven happy after flushable pit toilet donation

A few days later a privately owned company called Amalooloo built this family a flushable toilet. The family has expressed gratitude and sincere appreciation to Amalooloo, a privately owned company, who completed the toilet in a short space of two days after the story broke.

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane and Kekeletso Mosebetsi