The woman’s last wish is that she will see her family one more time before she dies so that she can apologise for abandoning them years ago and be able to “rest in peace”. But despite efforts to find them, no one has stepped forward to say they are her flesh and blood.

The woman, Alleta Moeng, is mentally ill and suffers from various chronic illnesses. While the social worker looking after Moeng’s case has received some calls about the granny after her story was published by Health-e News over a year ago, nothing concrete came from it.

“I have tried my best to re-unite the granny with her children as she keeps telling me that she needs to see them before she dies. She is currently very sick,” said social worker Peggy Mulaudzi.

Moeng, who is originally from Randfontein in Gauteng, came to Limpopo as a domestic worker for a construction company that was responsible for building Matatshe Prison in 1979.  After she lost her job, Moeng never went back home to Gauteng where she had five grown-up children and other family.

“All the calls I got after the story was published were from people claiming that they knew her (Moeng) but they always ended up being untrue. It seems people thought there was some financial reward for information. It is sad,” said Mulaudzi.

Moeng says she has five children, who were all grown up when she came to work in Limpopo. After she lost her job as a domestic worker, Moeng moved around the Vhembe area, doing part-time jobs, mainly as a domestic worker at various houses, before she fell sick and was no longer able to work.

Moeng only received her first ever ID book last year after the Department of Home Affairs intervened with the assistance of Thulamela Municipality Mayor Grace Mahosi. This meant she could at least claim on a grant.

“Her health is getting worse each day,and I just wish that someone could come forward with information about her family and children so she can rest peacefully,” said the social worker.

Moeng is living at an old age home in the Vhembe area where she is in the hands of Mulaudzi.

“She always tells me that the only thing she wishes to do before she dies is to meet her children so that she can apologise to them for abandoning them years ago.

The social worker is pleading with anyone who might have information that could help her re-unite Moeng with her family to come forward. They can contact Mulaudzi on 072 0769 135. – Health-e News