When rolling blackouts hit, it’s a life-or-death situation for 18-year-old Unakho Kewana from East London.

After suffering lung damage three years ago, Kewana now depends on oxygen supplementation.

She uses an oxygen cylinder to assist her in breathing.

“Load shedding makes it difficult for me to fill up my oxygen cylinder.”

Oxygen cylinders contain a finite amount of oxygen. They need to be replaced or refilled.

This means that one will need to make sure they always have a spare, and they require a power supply to operate.

With the prolonged severe bouts of load shedding, Kewana faces a serious challenge.

“I struggle a lot now with load shedding because my oxygen cylinder does not give out enough oxygen for me, making it painful to breathe.”

Kewana has a home office, which she uses to fill her oxygen tanks. This process requires electricity. Getting a second cylinder or even a small generator is too costly for her.

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“I would appreciate the help as I want to buy myself a small generator to help my breathing when there is no electricity and if possible, another oxygen cylinder so that when one is empty, I can use the other one.”

Kewana lives with her mother, who suffered a stroke in 2016 and had been unemployed since.

Her mother, who used to work at a chocolate factory, depends on their disability social grants to put food on the table.

Kewana says that the mental strain is becoming unbearable.

Due to her impairment, the young woman is unable to complete her schooling and is currently unemployed at home.

To help Kewana, email karabo.ledwaba@citypress.co.za

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