MAKONDE – The precious gift of life has turned out to be a tough battle for survival for Tondani Nemudzivhadi (38) and her five kids who stay at Makonde-Jim Masindi village, north of Thohoyandou.

With freezing weather already here, it is sad to see the kids without blankets or warm clothes. This is due to the fact that their mother is sickly and unemployed and none of the kids receives the state child support grant. The situation in the family has also affected the children’s performance at school. The first-born son, Jeffrey (17), is still doing Grade 5 (Std 3) at Jim Masindi Primary School. Although the kids are from Tondani’s previous marriages, they now survive on Sendedza Radzimisani’s old age grant. He is Tondani’s new, elderly husband of 73.

But the money is not enough as the children’s school funds have not been paid and the family sometimes runs short of food.

Nancy (13), Oriel (12), Thabelo (10), Rofhiwa (5), and Jeffrey do not have birth certificates and only two of the kids have clinic birth cards. Their mother has just managed to acquire her bar-coded ID lately.

When Mirror visited the family, the kids looked depressed, hungry and exhausted. Their mother was preparing dried maize (mathuthu) for her kids, using firewood, in an open space next to the family’s mud hut.

She poured out her touching story to Mirror: “These children are from my three previous marriages and my new husband has tried very hard to look after them. The children are suffering, as they do not have school uniforms, shoes or blankets. Both children sleep on the floor and I always have to smear cow dung to avoid dust.” Asked why she did not register the children for the child support grant, Tondani seriously said: “I just hear people talking about this child support grant, but I don’t even know where to go in order to register the children. I never went to school and I do not have a clear knowledge of what goes on in these offices. I do not even have the money for transport to go the offices, but I desperately need the child support grants for the survival of my kids.”

Tondani’s elderly husband, Radzimisani, said he has been battling to support the five kids for the past four years, but things are getting out of hand as the money he receives from the state is not enough to keep the family fire burning.

“I treat these kids as mine, but the burden is now too heavy; hence, I need some assistance. Things like bread, sugar and meat are a luxury as we can go for days without them. We mainly survive on wild vegetables. I have been trying so hard to maintain this family, but it is now difficult for me to cope with the hardships.”

Mirror immediately informed the Department of Health and Social Development about the family’s problems. Zwiitwani Nemaguvhuni, Vhembe District Liaison Officer, promised to visit the family to assess the situation and to find out how best the family could be assisted. He committed himself: “We will make sure that the family receives proper assistance and we will also see to it that the children who qualify for the child support grants are registered.”

Community members who would like to assist with food, clothing or anything can call 072 351 0164 or visit the family at Makonde-Jim Masindi on the eastern side of Sam Netshisaulu Restaurant.