Windhoek
The elderly Angelika Xoagus who took care of her cerebral palsy grandchild and other grandchildren passed away after a month-long illness. Xoagus, a resident of Okahandja Park informal settlement, died at home on January 15.
New Era last year wrote a story titled Misery, Sickness and Poverty in the slums, which described how Xoagus, 59, unemployed and HIV positive, struggled to care for her cerebral palsy grandson Lissel Xoagub and other grandchildren.
Because Xoagus was not yet 60 she did not qualify for a government pension and about 15 family members survived on Lissel’s N$250 disability grant.
In light of this, the family told New Era that they needed assistance to bury Xoagus. “Now we don’t have anything but at month-end we want to see how much we will collect,” said the relatives, adding that Xoagus had six children but only three are employed – as a security guard, motor mechanic and farm worker.
A quotation from a funeral parlour shows they need N$7 400 for the funeral on February 06.
After New Era wrote the story last year Lissel was placed in the hands of a foster mother who now cares for him.
Lissel is an orphan after his mother passed away in 2009 and left behind five children. At the time Lissel was severely malnourished and his body was covered with festering abscesses and sores. His grandmother cared for him around the clock.