The Mahikeng Local Municipality in the North West has launched disability forums to address the challenges faced by people with disabilities across the municipality’s 35 wards.
This emerged on Tuesday when the municipality in partnership with the provincial department of health handed 70 wheelchairs to those in need.
Mayor Tshepiso Mphehlo said the program will not only donate wheelchairs but will also provide all that is needed by those living with a disability.
“Recently we just launched at every single ward of Mahikeng a Disability Forum. So it means that we have to go to our communities to find out the challenges that our people living with disabilities face.
“This project will not only end with wheelchairs but will have to find other machinery that can help our people. For some it might be hearing aids and for some, it might be crutches. So these disability forums are going to help us in order to ease the lives of the people living with disabilities,” Mphehlo said.
Mphehlo reiterated that the program has nothing to do with electioneering campaigns and said the request for wheelchairs was made last year.
“We currently have only two years in office, even though we are politicians we are also human and have hearts. This is part of what our commitment is, to help our people. Yes, we are going to elections next year but this exercise has nothing to do with elections. We actually approached the department for these wheelchairs last year, after we identified the need for them,” he said.
The North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane, said the cost of each wheelchair ranges from between R4 000 and R7 000 each.
“The prices of the wheelchairs differ because their sizes are not the same. The wheelchairs were distributed on the basis of a list of councilors from different wards in Mahikeng.
“The councilors had identified the disabled persons in their wards and consolidated the numbers which came to 70 in total. They then approached the Mayor requesting that he buy wheelchairs for those people. The Mayor approached the MEC who requested the Department to assist,” said Lekgethwane.
Wheelchair beneficiary Kagiso Kwena from ward 18 in Tlhabologo Village was elated saying the wheelchair will make life easier for him.
“I’m really happy and appreciate this wheelchair very much. All along I’ve been using a wheelchair that is not working. I struggled when I had to use it, especially on gravel roads in the villages. Now I’ll be able to go to the local tuckshop and go to clinics when I have to,” Kwena said.
Joyce Mazibuko of Ward 12 in Mochoeseng shared Kwena’s sentiments and said she could not afford to buy her own wheelchair.
“I am very happy because I’ve always wanted a wheelchair but could not afford it. I feel so comfortable, it is just the right size for me. I’ve been using crutches and it was so uncomfortable. The councilor visited my house and asked if I would love to get a wheelchair and I said yes. So now I’ve received it,” said Mazibuko.
