CANDICE BAILEY
WHEN 18-year-old Thomas Ferreira was left permanently brain-damaged by a speeding blue-light state vehicle last month, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane publicly promised to foot the medical bills.
Now, when the monthly rehabilitation accounts of R120 000 are about to surface, there is no sign of premier.
Speaking to The Star yesterday, just one day after hearing that Thomas was permanently brain damaged, his father, Paul Ferreira said they were very concerned.
Thomas would need to go to a rehabilitation facility as soon as next week. It costs R120 000 a month, but their medical aid covers only 30 percent – about R36 000 – of this monthly bill.
Ferreira said he had had little to no contact with the premier’s office. “I have been speaking to Xoli (the premier’s spokesman). He was supposed to come back at the end of last week but has still not done that. When the premier came to see us, she asked us how she could help. We said we would like the best medical care. But our hands are tied.”
However, the premier’s spokesman, Xoli Mngambi, denies this, saying they were in discussions with the family and the parents.
Ferreira said the incident had taken its toll on his business and that his wife had not been to work since November 7.
“We appreciated them coming to the house and praying with us and supporting us. But there has been nothing more than that.”