Family Name: Khumalo

Area: Known to TCF

Area DF: Bheki Dladla

FAMILY COMPOSITION

Lillian Khumalo, Female, 59,  Caregiver

William Khumalo, Male, 47

Thabani Khumalo, Male, 12, Orphan

Nolwazi Khumalo, Female 8, Orphan

Family background

Khumalo household was identified in July 2008. The family consists of 4 family members; 2 adults and 2 children. Lillian the grandmother has been the caregiver of 2 children since the mother passed away after a long illness, on top of two children she is also caring for her son William who is 47 years of age,  (only 12 years younger than Alvina due to the department of home affairs wrongfully registering her as 10 years younger). He is receiving disability grant which is their only source of income. It is reported that William’s disability grant is temporary and normally lasts for 12 months or less and at times when he re-apply, his application is declined. During the times in which the grant is suspended the family struggles as they depend mainly on this grant.

Basic financial security

The family relies on William’s disability grant as the only source of income which is difficult for the family to meet family demands.

Physical Well-being

The caregiver and children are physically healthy except, William who is Epileptic

Emotional well-being

No one from them is in need of therapy, all of them are emotionally coping. The DF will monitor the situation continuously if something happens in order to have immediately intervention. The children will be part of the next therapeutic weekend that will help them deal with the loss of their parents.

Cognitive well-being

Volunteer and the caregiver reported that children are not doing well at school. Sthembiso is supposed to be doing grade 7 but he is in grade 4. Nolwazi is supposed to be in grade 3 but she is in grade 2. The volunteer is making a follow up with the children and assisting them with home work.

Basic housing and accommodation

The family is living in a three roomed mud house that is falling apart and leaking. When the DF visited this family it was raining and he saw two washing basins full of water from the leaking roof.

Basic household equipment

The family does not have basic kitchen equipment, bedding and linen is an urgent needed for this family.

Basic food nutrition

The family does not have enough income to buy nutritious food for the children and family as a whole because they entirely depend on William’s grant as source of income.

Basic environmental health

The caregiver made everything possible to ensure that the house is tidy and clean

Future Plan

The Development facilitator has assisted the family to apply for birth certificates for the children as well as birth certificate for the deceased because she did not have identity document when she died. On 17 February 2009 the caregiver got an appointment with the area social worker to apply for foster care placement for the children.