thritis, and was referred to tygerberg hospital. however, she said doctors at the hospital suspected scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine which may cause the spine to be in the shape of a c or s instead of being straight. it sometimes causes the body to look uneven through the shoulders, waist or hips. since then, her life has deteriorated, as she developed bladder problems. she is now using a catheter. “my back was operated on in march, in order to insert a flexible wire, to try and straighten my backbone. even now i still experience pains because the doctors told me that this will take up to a year to heal,” she said. however, the fear of death by fire seems to occupy her mind all of the time. “i cannot move, i must ask assistance just to be put on a bed or a chair ... my shack is too small even for my wheelchair to drive manoeuvre ... even if i have to go out, i have to ask someone else to push me because there is no proper paving for my wheelchair.” “i have to hire somebody to cook, do the washing and clean the house for me. she also bathes me because i cannot move,” she said. jinoyi--mzomba was with her aunt nomvo mzomba-- on a visit from ilitha park-- who described her niece’s condition as disturbing. “she is a diabetic. my concern is once her legs have to be amputated,” she said. mzomba said she wished for a motorized wheels.