Selling bananas to keep family afloat

SIPHIWE Ndlovu (66) from the Ntweni area in Mtubatuba is a perfect example of a woman fighting against all the odds to keep her family in survival mode.

Her misery started when her husband Solomon Mthembu (71) was diagnosed with throat cancer and became virtually bedridden after undergoing an operation.

Although he receives a State pensioner’s grant, Ndlovu says it is all spent on medication and transport to hospitals.

Subsequently, she wakes up early every morning to sell bananas at the local taxi rank to make some money to feed her husband and family of nine.

She said after the operation Mthembu lost his voice and can hardly eat. He cannot work and all her children are unemployed.

Mthembu needs someone to look after him 24 hours a day, and her daughter has opted to take that responsibility.

‘Another challenge is that we can’t buy my husband’s food in bulk because we don’t have electricity and a fridge to keep it fresh.’

Mtuba Mayor Qhina Mkhwanazi said he is aware of the family’s challenges.

‘There are doctors from China who are in the process of trying to improve Solomon’s condition.

‘I have also assigned his ward councilllor to monitor the situation regularly and am busy persuading local businesses to employ their one daughter so that she can help her family financially,’ said Mkhwanazi.