Gugulethu senior citizen pleads for help amid theft and vandalism

Nearly a year after losing access to running water in her bathroom, a Gugulethu senior citizen is pleading for help to restore her dignity and rebuild what remains of her vandalised home.

Eunice Fuma, 91, affectionately known as MaMbathane in NY 56, says she has endured months of suffering due to ongoing theft and destruction allegedly caused by her own grandson.

Ms Fuma said she is living without the basics and enduring emotional abuse.

“I need whoever to fix my bathroom so I can bathe again. I have been without proper bathing for nearly a year now,” she said.

She explained that both she and her youngest son have suffered immensely. She said that the situation became so unbearable that her son eventually moved out to seek refuge elsewhere.

At one stage, even the household tap water was cut off, forcing them to rely on neighbours for water.

“I do not owe the municipality any water bills. My troubles are caused by my own children and their children,” she said.

“The bathroom you see with no bath and no water was stripped by my grandson. He is behind the vandalism in my house. When my son, a 40-year-old man, tried to reprimand him, my daughters reacted violently, yet they live comfortably in posh areas around Cape Town while we suffer here with one of their sons.”

Ms Fuma said she contacted her grandson's father to report the matter, but he died before he could intervene. She then asked her son to move to his late father’s house for safety, especially after their backroom caught fire and thieves made off with everything inside.

Gugulethu Community Policing Forum spokesperson, Linda Kabeni, said the CPF would meet with Ms Fuma to assess the situation.

“I will have to go and see the damage first, and we will take it from there,” said Mr Kabeni. “I will also try to contact the local councillor to have a look. Maybe we can assist.”