The Sibalukhulu Family

Sibalukhulu Family

The Sibalukhulu family started to attend the family centre programme in July 2012, when a member of the community came to report that the mother of 4 children aged 7, 11, 14, 18 had left them on their own. She claimed that she left to look for a job in Johannesburg. When we arrived at the house there was no food. The children were so sad and missing their mother. The oldest child would go to the neighbors and ask for help to survive. Their mother had been gone for two months when we first met them.  Nqubeko, a male child, was really angry at his mother. And he stated that he is not missing her any more since she had been living them on their own regularly. “We are used to it now” said Nqubeko.

The oldest child, Thandiswa, disclosed her status to us that she was HIV positive but was not yet on treatment. At school she was not copying and she was sick most of the time. The children also told me that their father sent money but their mother would take that money and abuse it. Ethembeni asked the Howick social work department to take over the case as we realized this family needed a major family intervention. The social worker decided to remove the children to a place of safety in Dundee.

The positive thing out of all this is that the children now are safe. Before they were moved, the Ethembeni nurse helped refer all the children to our local clinic for checkups. Thandiswa started her ARV treatment. And joined her mother who made a promise to take her to school in Johannesburg. Bongiwe the 14 year old had TB. The social worker gave us an assurance that she will be looked after medically.

A good team effort involving many different people has resulted in the Sibalakhulu family having hope for the future. The Ethembeni mentors played a big role in restoring relationships and loving these children unconditionally – praise the Lord.