The Rep 15 February 2019

THE REPRESENTATIVE 15 Februar y 2019 Tel: (045) 839-4040 mjekulal@tisoblackstar.co.za - advertising: charodinev@tisoblackstar. c o . z a
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Inventor struggles to bring ideas to life
BRIGHT MINDS: The commode
chair which is the brainchild of
local inventor Khanyisa Nyeka
Ear infections ‘most common in schools’
ABONGILE
S O LU N D WA N A
According to
Phelophepha clinical
nursing practitioner
Phiwokuhle Mhlongo,
who has been visiting
local schools, ear
ANDISA BONANI
An innovative woman from
Ezibeleni has invented a
commode for people who
struggle to get themselves to
the toilet, an invention she
said was inspired by
overweight people in her
fa m i l y.
Khanyisa Nyeka said the
commode was needed in
hospitals and homes where
sick and elderly people
struggled to get to the
b at h r o o m .
“Hospitals normally use
bedpans or nappies which are
expensive, especially for
people who take care of sickly
loved ones at home. The
commode is portable, easy to
clean compared to a nappy
and will save money.”
Nyeka said she was assisted
by the Chris Hani District
Municipality in 2017 which
paid for the fees for an
infections were the most
prevalent health ailments
experienced by primary
school pupils in the
province. Mhlongo said
this during a visit to
Unathi Mkefa Primary
School in Ezibeleni on
Fr i d ay.
“The Phelophepha
health care, eye, and
dental clinic services
have been visiting
primary schools because
many health problems
ought to be prevented
from early childhood.”
She said eight schools
HEALTH CHECK: Phelophepha clinical nursing practitioner Phiwokuhle
Mhlongo with Unathi Mkefa Primary School pupils during a health check
up at the school
Picture: ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA
inventor’s course, for which
she was grateful.
“The district municipality
also helped me to get a factory
at Queendustria which has a
10-year lease. This year is the
fifth and I have not used that
space as other promises have
not been fulfilled. The
municipality made so many
promises, including paying a
prototype company so my
other inventions could be
brought to life.
“This has not happened and
there is no indication when it
will happen. The factory space
has been vandalised over the
years and has deteriorated.”
Nyeka said President Cyril
Ramaphosa’s Thuma Mina
campaign encouraged black
women to start businesses so
they would get support, but
she is yet to receive the
support she needs from local
representatives of the
campaign.
were visited during the
period that the train had
spent in town.
“Our concern is that
most ear infections lead
the children to
experience loss of
hearing at a later stage if
they are not dealt with
sooner. This usually
starts from a lack of
cleaning and hygiene at
home. Our role is to treat
the pupils while teaching
them how to take proper
care of their ears.”
Other common
ailments among pupils
were skin and breathing
conditions, Mhlongo
said.
Mhlongo said regular
check-ups were very
important as good health
among children began
from immunisation level
to prevent certain
conditions which could
lead to disability.
She said the health
“I feel as though the
municipalit y’s assistance is
dragging on. I have made
business deals with local
pharmaceutical companies
who indicated they would
stock some of my inventions,
including the commode, but I
need at least R3,000 to make a
c h a i r. ”
Nyeka has also invented a
multi-use bowl, pill container
with compartments for various
medicines and a polystone
which is a tombstone that can
be reused for two burials.
CHDM spokesperson
Thobeka Mqamelo dismissed
allegations of reneging on
promises and said they viewed
them as unfounded.
“We wish to indicate that
Nyeka approached the
municipality for further
support after we initially
assisted her to undertake the
training that she requested.
Her request for the prototype
programme only targeted
needy schools and that
they had also been
visiting old age homes
and disability care
cent res.
“Our tour has been a
great success. We were
fortunate to get
assistance from some
schools who had
identified pupils who
experienced health
problems, which made
our work easier.”
Mhlongo said their
next targeted area was
Mthatha, followed by
Idutywa and East
London.
was presented to the grant
application approval
committee for consideration
with all other applications the
municipality had received.
“The process is still under
way and the outcomes of the
deliberations of the
responsible committee will be
communicated to all
applicants. This is done in
writing to all, whether
successful or not. The process
was also explained to Nyeka
as such, and the district
therefore cannot succumb to
undue pressure and baseless
allegations to give preferential
treatment to any individuals in
this regard.”
The local inventor is looking
for any companies or
individuals who are willing to
invest in the inventions which
she has already designed. To
contact her, call 084-617-6454.
KHANYISA NYEKA