KHUBVI – Mr Fhatuwani Sikhipha (46), whose plea for help was published several times in this newspaper late last year, has lost a tough battle of about a year against a chronic liver disease. He died on Tuesday night at Donald Fraser hospital.

Sikhipha was no longer able to work for his wife and seven kids as his stomach was bulging and the family was too poor to afford special medical care for him. Sikhipha earned R330 as a gardener before he became ill and, since then, his life became a misery. His death has added more misery to the family because they do not have money to bury him.

For the past months, the family has been surviving on donations from sympathetic Mirror readers who reacted when the story was published.

Sikhipha’s stranded wife, Sylvia (39), said the family is seriously affected by the death of her husband and they do not know where to find money for his burial. “Although my husband was very poor, I believe he deserves a decent burial with dignity. I am also unemployed and the situation here at home is difficult, as our coffers do not even have a cent. We have lost our first-born son, Rudzani, last year and it was very difficult to bury him as we were penniless. Now my husband is gone and I do not know what to do. I also do not know what to do to keep the home fire burning as the kids have to go to school and gain access to basic family needs.”

Sylvia said the family would welcome any donation from community members to give her husband a proper sendoff. “We need money for a coffin and food for the mourners. We believe we will have a large number of mourners, as my husband was well known in the area. He was due to receive his disability grant after a government official read about his plight, but it is unfortunate because he died sooner than we expected.”

Sylvia said that if the family can manage to get donations, the funeral could take place on Sunday. “As a family, we are greatly saddened by my husband’s death. My kids were happy to see him alive although he could no longer do anything for them due to his poor health. We believe the community will assist us to bury my husband so that his soul may rest in peace. Although I will have a heavy burden of raising the seven kids alone, I believe life should go on as if nothing has happened.”

Community members who would like to assist the family to bury Fhatuwani can call 073 128 5029 or visit the family at Khubvi village, north of Thohoyandou.