In 2005 she accidentally cut her leg with an axe while chopping wood. Her leg became infected and swollen and she was forced to get around by crawling.

But regardless of these challenges she can cook, clean the house and iron clothes.

The 73-year-old woman suffers from hypersomnia, a disorder characterised by excessive sleepiness.

Tshwaame lives at Makolokoe village near Brits, in North West.

She and her brother Shimane Tshwaame, 64, live in a four-roomed house their parents previously owned and use a shack at the back to cook.

Neither has children.

"This is our parents' house. We used to be five but two passed on and it is only my two sisters and I who still alive. The other one got married and lives in Lefiso village near Hammanskraal. She only visits us when she gets a chance," Shimane said.

Though she likes to cook and clean for herself and her brother, Nthonti, says she cannot cope.

Even though the pair have a two-plate electric stove, Nthonti prefers to use the fire where she has to chop wood to cook because she cannot stand up to use the stove.

Nthonti says she is scared she might get burnt while she is asleep because this has already happened to her before while she was busy cooking.

Yesterday, when Sowetan visited the siblings, Nthonti was busy shining the floor and singing church songs.

"I have been crawling for two years now and I am used to it," she said. "I can do anything but the problem is that I fall asleep when no one talks to me or when I am alone.

"I cannot control it, it just happens."

They both receive pension grants, but said they felt they could no longer take care of each other because they are old.

Their nephew has to go and withdraw money from the bank for them and buy their food.

- tshehleb@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Thu Jun 20 12:24:30 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 30, 2012

hungry

she is so old is such a shame what's she is going through,may god bless her for her good heart.
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Jul 30, 2012

maneater

jaa nee. that is why i do not look forward to being a granny. you might sometimes end up being all alone suffering when you have spent all your life working. God must just give me two years to finish my pension and at around 67-68 years i want out of here!!!!
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Jul 30, 2012

Shredder

This is one of the things when I see and I say , "Come Lord Jesus".
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Jul 30, 2012

Mellow

Shame hey true they are old now and cannot really depend on each other as much as they are capable of doing things for themselves its hard maybe its time to go to a care home where they can be taken care of
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Jul 30, 2012

malemaforpresident

Ke gogo ya maneater

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Jul 30, 2012

maneater

@malemaforpresident
==============================================
waphapha San!!!
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Jul 30, 2012

Nexus

Does she ever bath? They need to be placed in the Old Age Home where they would take care of them, If she is chopping wood to cook, what is her brother's role then? Clearly he can see that his sister is struggling to cook for them and chopping wood. Where is the nephew? because his the one collecting the money and does he ever give them the withdrawal slips hmmmmm? Or even buy them things they desire or crave? If they were married and had children, their children and partners would take good care of them. Are there any care workers around that area?
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Jul 30, 2012

Mellow

@Nexus LOL so many questions and she have hands dear so me thinks she bath daily and I also think car home willl make their lives easy eish and you know how weak some men are I bet the brother doesnt care all he cares about is eating its crazy it doesnt sound like he help her at all
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Jul 30, 2012

maneater

@ nexus

the cleanliness of her house ( see pic 1)shows that she takes pride in herself. so i am sure she does have a bath.
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Jul 30, 2012

Mellow

meant care home
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