Manana Mohube stays in Dawsonville Soweto with her three children: a 21 year old, a 14 year old, and a 4 year old. In 2005 she suffered from TB of the spine and became bedridden. Her oldest son, Thabiso, was 17 years old at the time of her falling ill. At 17, Thabiso had to run the house when his mother became too ill to do anything. Thabiso would take care of his mother and his two brothers: bathing the youngest who was by then 1 year old and taking him to crèche in the morning before he went to school. Thabiso would then still visit his Mother in the hospital after school.

A neighbour took Manana to church in the same neighbourhood to ask the pastor to pray for her. The pastor was very touched and took Manana to be cared for in his home while looking for someone who could care for her in her own home. The pastor approached one of the APD caregivers who attends the same church. Arrangements were made for the caregiver to go to the home of Manana to bath and exercise her on a voluntary basis. Later, the caregiver reported the case to her supervisor and arrangements were made by the pastor and Manana to move back to her house and be cared for by an APD caregiver. The APD supervisor went to assess Manana and the APD sent in a caregiver to assist her with bathing and exercise.

On one occasion, when Manana visited the hospital and was told by her doctor that she would never be able to walk again, she became depressed. She was so distraught that on arriving home she attempted to commit suicide. Miraculously, her son arrived from school at precisely the right time and rescued her. APD social workers were called in to counsel Manana and her family.

The APD caregiver assisted Manana patiently and she improved gradually. It took three years of perseverance for Manana to walk again. She is now walking with a crutch. She is able to do her housework without the assistance of a caregiver, and she goes shopping with her children. Manana continues to do exercises on a daily bases. Because she has not yet gained her sense of balance completely, the APD caregiver visits her once a week to help her with the exercises that she cannot do on her own.

The courageous Manana is a happy person and she believes one day she will be able to walk without crutches. The Association for the Physically Disabled – Greater Johannesburg proudly recognizes the achievements of Janet Poonyane, or Manana as she is know to us, and congratulate her for the steps she has taken towards realizing her full potential.