Instead of lamenting their plight, two disabled brothers are using art to deal with their stress.
Sivuyile George, 42, and Mpendulo Ngcwabe, 45, spend their time creating works of art while taking care of their frail mother, Victoria, in their New Crossroads home.
Sivuyile is a painter while Mpendulo uses wire to create all makes of cars. Mpendulo who can hardly walk moves around in a broken wheelchair and he is hoping that his application for a disability grant will be approved so that he can get more material for his work.
“We are both depending on our mother’s old age grant. My younger brother is getting a tempory disability grant and he is the one taking me to the clinic for treatment and we are hoping the grant application will be approved,” said Mpendulo.
The brothers are faced with poverty but it is their love for art that keeps them going every day.
“I have never sold a single art piece and that does not bother me because I love what I am doing,” Sivuyile said, showing off some of his many works. He has painted portraits of leaders like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Nelson Mandela and many others. They are both looking for art material donations like stretched canvas, thin flat artist brushes, acrylic paints and wire.
“Last year I was lucky – a woman saw a my request for help on Facebook and donated most of the material I am using now. I would be very happy if we can get more material for my brother,” he said.
If you can help, call Sivuyile on 067 362 3903.