A Batchelor & Associates
A T T O R N E Y S
•
A M A G Q W E T H A
"Iincutshe Kumabango Engozi Zendlela" "Specialising in Motor Vehicle Accident Claims"
No Success No Fee
4 th Floor 56 Shortmarket Street Cape Town e-mail: info@batchelor.co.za 8001
Tel: 021 422 1182 Fax: 021 424 2212
X1QD60YM-CY060815
LAGUNYA | PHILIPPI
Thursday, 6 August 2015 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Fax: 021 910 6501 | Email: cityvision@wpnewspapers.co.za
CRIME: PARAPLEGIC POLICEMAN FEELS NEGLECTED
Forgotten cop speaks MBONGISENI MASEKO
O
ne night in November 2011, an off-duty Constable Bulelani Qwiliso was being dropped home after a day out with friends; As he stepped out of the car, out of nowhere and without any form of provocation, unknown gunmen opened fire on them, with one bullet going through Qwiliso’s mouth and exiting through the back of his neck, leaving him paralysed. Both the driver of the car and the other remaining passenger were also shot, but died on the scene. Up to this day, he does not know the progress in the case or if the assailants were ever brought to book. But, up to the time he was shot, Qwiliso,30, had been in the police service for seven years. After the incident, he lost the use of his faculties, including his arms and legs. A paraplegic. Before the incident, he was based at the Grassy Park police station, but living in Brown’s Farm, in Philippi. In this exclusive interview to City Vision, Qwiliso related a sad story of neglect, lack of support and Constable Bulelani Qwiliso, 30, is now bed-ridden after suffering a bout of pneumonia, which he attributes to lack of mal-treatment at the hands of peo- support from his employee. Qwiliso lost the use of his limbs after he was shot in the mouth in 2011. A teary Nikelwa ple he regarded as colleagues and Qwiliso said it was said to see her brother being neglected by his employer. PHOTO: MBONGISENI MASEKO comrades. salary he received after his predic- at night. He tells of how, after his return ing exposed to the elements...” “It seems I no longer qualify for He said he was promised “to be ament. from hospital, he was never even “I cannot drive myself now and that...,” He said the whole experiafforded the services of a physio- trained to do tasks that would be therapist, so that his muscle tissue aligned to his disability, which I depended on my colleagues to ence was hurting and physically come fetch me for work. But they and emotionally draining. never materialised. has all but collapsed as a result. “The treatment that I get now Because of exposure to the ele- are barred from fetching me and He was offered no post traumatic ments, Qwiliso suffered another they are threatened with disciplin- hurts me a lot. I did not expect it counselling and no after-care. ary action if they do. I only go to from my colleagues now that I am “Granted, I was not on medical setback; pneumonia. “I complained that it is cold by work whenever they manage to in a wheelchair,” he added. aid...as an employee, I deserved to Last month, he recalls going to the door, to no avail. I have since fetch me. be taken better care of.” I think it is an unfair treatment work for only three days, which, he Even worse, according to him, he become sick and the doctor told me was forced to return to work on less that I have pneumonia. I had been that I am getting from my col- says, will see his salary vanish, he said. exposed to the cold for far too leagues,” he offered. than half his previous salary. “I still have to buy medication Father of four Qwiliso said it was “I was deployed as a door keeper long,” he shared. He has not been to work for a standard practice to pick up col- and pay my care-giver.” upon my return(to work)...usherHe only had been to work for ing in clients or complainants. Be- time now, thus forfeiting the paltry leagues for work, and drop them off
three days in July. Qwiliso said he also felt that his employee has left him on his vices. “I feel like I have been left to rot. I am no longer useful to them, so am on my own. “Thembelani Leleki, is the person who helps me around the house, cleaning, feeding and taking care of me, as I cannot do anything for myself,” he shared. He added that this Leleki also helped bring him to work His biggest fear, he said, was loosing his job, as no one seems to be by his side. A forgotten man. “I am afraid that they will one day fire me, because they always say I am absent without official leave(Awol), whenever I am sick. He said he could not afford to loose his job, else his children will starve. “I cannot afford not to work, because my four children will go hungry. I am still young to retire.” Nikelwa Qwiliso, his sister, said, Qwiliso also suffers from short breaths. “Life has been very hard for all of us since he was shot. He goes hungry most of the time,” she said. She was forced to quit her job at Debonairs to help look after her brother. Qwiliso said he still does not know why the armed men just attacked them, because, as his friends lay dead and he was maimed, nothing was taken to indicate the motive for the shooting. After numerous requests for comment from SAPS Western Cape Media Centre, City Vision received this brief e-mail from Constable Noloyiso Rwexana, Corporate Communication officer for SAPS Western Cape Media Centre: “Kindly be advised that the member is advised to follow the police grievance procedure,”.
NEW TOYOTA COROLLA’S Protea Toyota WOMEN’S WEEK SPECIAL Bellville Valid up to and including the 9`th of August
Address : 189 Voortrekker Road, Bellville, 7530 Postal address: P.O.Box 211, Sanlamhof, 7532
BBBEE Status Level 2
New Toyota Corolla
(J13) 1.3 Esteem (White Only)
(J02) 1.3 Prestige (White Only)
(J12) 1.4D Esteem (White Only)
(J14) 1.6 Esteem
COME ON GENTLEMAN, MAKE HER DAY
Prices are on the Vehicles Only. Valid Only While Stocks Last. T & C’s Apply Picture for Ilustration purposes only
(Silver Only)
LEAD THE WAY
Was
Now
R228 000
R207 480
R247 200
R224 952
R257 400 R237 700
(Save R20 520)
(Save R22 248)
R234 234 (Save R23 166)
R218 127 (Save R19 573)
Contact: Vusi, Ganief, Brandon, Gulzar, Jean-Leigh, Jonathan Trading hours: Monday to Thursday: 8:00 - 17:30 Friday: 8:00 – 17:30 • Sat: 9:00 - 13:00 Sonja Scott - New Vehicle Sales Manager Phone: 021 946 3324 • Fax: 021 949 8855 • E-mail: sonja@proteatoyota.co.za X1QDJC3D-CY060815