The mysterious disease started when she was only six. She would develop lumps and her skin colour would turn black every time she ate porridge. Now she is 20 and she still does not eat the local traditional staple food.

Her family is too poor to afford more luxurious food like rice. Last week, she took a risk and tried to eat the humble porridge. Unfortunately, she became very sick and nearly lost her life.

This is the painful story of Mashau Ntikana of Miluwani village, near Thohoyandou.

A Grade 10 learner at Thohoyandou High School, Mashau said the problem has also affected her performance at school. “Each time I try to eat the porridge, I end up being hospitalized and my school work always lags behind. I have gone for several treatments, thinking that the problem would be solved, but I am now without hope because nothing is happening. I like eating porridge like others but it seems my dreams of enjoying the humble food are now shattered. Sometimes I run short of food like rice, due to the shortage of cash at home. This forces me to survive on bread, which is also not easy to acquire.”

Mashau’s single and unemployed mother, Annah (58), who has eight other children to look after, says she has taken Mashau to different hospitals for treatment, but the problem has never been solved.

“I thought it was a minor rash when it started at the time she was six. The rash developed into big lumps and her skin colour changed to black. I took her to Tshilidzini Hospital and doctors said she could not eat porridge any more.”

Annah says she is worried that she does not have cash to buy special food for her daughter, as she is not working. “Being unemployed and poor, I do not know how I will rescue her from the situation as I do not have cash to buy a special diet. I appeal to community members to assist her with special food like rice, beans and fish.”

Annah also says she has tried to contact different social workers to have her child assisted by the government but she never received any response. “I have been moved from pillar to post and my only hope is the community. I would highly appreciate assistance for my daughter, as I want her to have a bright future like other people…”