MAGEVA - His life has been turned into misery since he developed big lumps on his nose and right eye. People look at him in disbelief wherever he goes because his face is totally disfigured. He now breathes through his mouth as his nose is blocked and there are big balls of red flesh in the nostrils.

The pain is so terrible that he has never known peaceful sleep in the past two years. Although he is very poor and unemployed, Donald Mabunda (46) of Mageva Village, near Giyani, still believes that his plea for help will be answered one day.

Married with two kids, Mabunda said his problems started in 2003 but he did not take it seriously as he thought it was just a minor nose infection. “It started with just a small pimple in my right nostril with some small mucus discharges. The pimples grew into very painful lumps and I started to realize that my condition was very serious. I went to the local clinic and they referred me to Khensani hospital where doctors drained the lumps but they soon developed three times bigger than before. I am now hopeless, as life is no longer pleasant to me because I’m suffering every minute of my life. This thing is almost killing me and I can no longer afford to keep quiet.”

Mabunda said he once consulted a local doctor, who said he could operate on him for R10 000. “I can not afford expensive medical expenses as I do not even receive a government social grant. I don’t think I deserve to die because of my poor financial background. I believe there are good Samaritans who can assist me out there. I just want to be normal like other people so that I can rise again and work for my family.”

“My pain becomes more worse when I come across situations where there is dust, smoke, or perfumes, or in extremely cold environments. There is nothing I can do to avoid these situations as I come across them almost every day of my life. I think I do not deserve to suffer like this and I humbly request community members to assist me. I need money for surgery and medication because I want to be healed and work to develop my community,” said Mabunda who was struggling to speak as his voice has also been affected.

Mabunda always carries a cloth wherever he goes to wipe out mucuslike substances, which are continually discharged from his nose and right eye.

“This is suffering at its worst and I am afraid that if the problem persists and affects my esophagus, I am definitely going to die, because I will not be able to breathe. I humbly request assistance as I have fallen slave of this terrible life-threatening situation…”

Community members who would like to assist can call Mabunda’s brother, Thompson at 083 475 8575, his cousin Fumani at 073 155 4885 or alternatively his neighbour Grace at 073 398 4616. Those who would like to visit him can go to Magevha village in Dzumeri area, near Giyani, next to Ukuthula Primary School.