Boy (16) appealing for assistance in the form of a wheelchair

A disabled Tsholotsho boy (16) is appealing for assistance in the form of a wheelchair which would enable him to go to school.

Innocent Dube was born a normal baby but when he was six-months-old, his legs began to stiffen and he has never attended school because he is unable to walk.

When he was a baby, he received physiotherapy to treat the stiffness in his legs but it did not work until he eventually became paralysed from the waist down.

Innocent is an orphan and he lives with his late mother's aunt, Ms Sithembiso Moyo in an area called Madona line in Tsholotsho.

A close relative, who could only be identified as Tshalibe said Innocent was not born physically challenged but succumbed to an illness they suspect could have been polio.

"Innocent was born a normal baby in 1996 but when he was six-months-old, he started to develop some stiffness in his legs.

"He was taken to a medical centre in Maphisa for treatment and physiotherapy but it never worked until he eventually became paralysed," said Tshalibe.

He said as a result, Innocent has not been able to attend school because he cannot walk and needs a wheelchair to assist him to move around.

In previous years, Innocent had to be carried around but because he has grown bigger and heavier, no one is able to continue carrying him.

"No one can carry him anymore because he has grown big so we leave him at home when we go places, even to church," said Tshalibe.

Innocent said he wished to attend school like other children as well as gain some mobility but that had not been possible since his guardians cannot afford to buy him a wheelchair.

Well-wishers who would like to assist Innocent can contact his guardian Ms Sithembiso Moyo on 0713470912.