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ZIWAPHI • VOL 4 NO 4 • 26 FEBRUARY 11 MARCH 2010

NELSPRUIT

The leader of the Congress of the People (COPE) in Mpumalanga who was involved in a car accident last week underwent surgery in Nelspruit on Tuesday.

Prudence Zale Madonsela, the party’s only representative in the Mpumalanga legislature, was injured last Wednesday evening after her car hit a pothole on the Badplaas road and overturned. She was returning from site visits in Piet Retief when the accident occurred.

Madonsela was transported to the Barberton Medi-Clinic before being transferred to the Nelspruit Medi-Clinic, where she is receiving treatment.

In an interview with African Eye News Service before the operation on Tuesday, Madonsela said her left hand was numb and one part of the operation was aimed at fixing nerve damage to the hand. Doctors would also work on her damaged spinal chord, she said, adding that she was scared she might be paralysed.

“The doctors told me that this is a complicated operation, but they gave me hope when they informed me that they’ve had successes in all the similar operations that they’ve done before. They told me that I also need to pray for the operation to be successful,” said Madonsela.

“I was told that I will be kept in hospital for another week after the operation. I also have to attend physiotherapy for a while before the doctors can give me the go-ahead to return to work,” she said.

Madonsela’s seat in the Mpumalanga legislature will remain vacant until she is fit enough to return.

The ANC chief whip in the Mpumalanga legislature, Siphosezwe Masango, wished Madonsela a speedy recovery.

“We hope she gets better and returns to work soon. We will send her flowers and a card to let her know that we are thinking about her and wish her the best,” said Masango.

After Madonsela’s accident, the Democratic Alliance in the province challenged premier David Mabuza’s government to repair all the potholes in the province.

The provincial department of public works, roads and transport said last week that it needed R2-billion to address the maintenance backlog in the province, with a further R850-million needed annually.

Spokesperson David Nkambule added that the department did not have enough money.

“However, with the limited funds and resources at our disposal we try to prevent the problem from escalating. We have dispatched 1 507 road workers throughout the province and also appointed extra contractors to fix the roads,” he said.