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The Simon Phuthego Foundation has appealed for support for its bid to refurbish and extend the house of two victims of a crocodile attack, who lost their arms during the ordeal in 2020.The organisation plans to refurbish the house in Disana, Maun to make it more habitable and user friendly for the duo that now live with disabilities.
In an interview recently, the founding Chairperson of the foundation, Simmon Phuthego said they have since opted to refurbish the duo’s house which he said is not in a good condition. By giving the house a facelift, it will provide the two with a habitable home and restore their dignity.
He has since appealed for support, both in-kind and cash revealing that the estimated total amount required to complete the project is about P160 000 for both labour and material expenses. “By supporting this project will be assisting the disadvantaged family live a more dignified life,” Phuthego pleaded.
The two, Nkoketsang and Cecelia Monnawatsheko lost their arms in a crocodile attack while harvesting water lily (Tswii) in the Thamalakane river. The crocodile which initially attacked the daughter, later attacked the mother who was trying to save her daughter.
The organisation has since has taken up the challenge to assist the family and had previously pledged to procure prosthetic arms for the victims as well as a washing machine and stock for their already constructed tuck shop which helps them to earn a living.
The NGO’s founding chairperson, has said they have been unable to raise enough funds for the prosthetics arms which were estimated to cost over P300 000 for each victim.
“The plan is to refurbish the existing house, make it more habitable and disability friendly as much as possible by installing a washing machine, addition of a shower to make things easier for them to care for their personal hygiene. We plan to extend the living room, add a kitchen, bathroom and laundry room,” he indicated.
Phuthego added that they also plan to refurbish and stock up the duo’s tuck shop to enable them to sustain themselves. According to him, gathering tswii was their means of livelihood for the two but with no predictable source of income, the family currently struggles to adapt and mostly depend on alms and dole for survival. Phuthego added that the unemployed daughter also has four children who solely rely on her for survival.
Though they have not been able to raise any funds for the project, Phuthego indicated that their aim is to have completed and handed over the refurbished house by end of next month.
The Simmon Phuthego Organisation (TSPO), a not-for profit making organization was established to actively promote human-wildlife co-existence and develop marginalized, youthful human potential through sport within local communities of southern Africa’s Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) region.
