Orlando West

24 October 1948

Dear Miss Taylor,

The case of Mrs. Malele pains me greatly because it is one of those things one cannot do much about. You have done a great deal, I have reason to know, indeed more than she herself can estimate, to help her.

There is, unfortunately, no chronic sick home for Africans in this country. In fact the state hardly even mentions anything about the African chronic sick. I do not know of any mission home that accepts such cases. Admittedly, she needs change of climate and such a home would have to be where it suits her condition. The only mission institutions out in the country districts are hospitals or clinics or schools and not for such cases as Mrs. Malele's. Yes, it is very hard.

As far as external help is concerned I suggest you write to Mrs Henderson, Non-European Affairs Dept., His Majesty's Buildings, JHB, who is the senior welfare officer in that dept. She has, I know, a list of such cases which have no institution to care for them. She may not do something straightaway, but she will know about it.

I have known asthma to be incurable, but recently a man who had had it for over 30 years was cured completely by a Dr Mandelstam at the Benoni location. He has proven a wizard with a number of cases declared ‘impossible’. This was the first time for me to see this ailment cured – I know the man personally who was cured. Have you ever tried him? If you have not and would like to try him, I shall let you know how to get to him.

As far as her own behaviour is concerned, I may say this: I know how asthma can beat one up and weaken the moral courage one may have. I was attacked by asthma in 1940 in Natal and such days and nights of agony I endured are almost unimaginable. I am perfectly alright at any place on the Reef, but I dare not go to Pretoria or the coast or any other place that is lower than the Reef. I gave up all hope for medical cure and it taught me to exercise, open air, good diet, constant movement on my legs help one to resist it.