Learners at the Sibonile School for the Visually Impaired can now independently access critical information about gender-based violence (GBV) and children’s rights, thanks to an intervention led by the Kliprivier SAPS Social Crime Prevention Unit.

On February 13, as part of a provincial integrated law enforcement and service delivery operation, the unit conducted an awareness session at the school.

The initiative, carried out on behalf of the district commissioner, Major General Nkhensani Adelaide Mukwevho, was under the leadership of Brigadier Sibongile Ndaba.

According to Sergeant Ndhambi Tintswalo, officers handed over specialised educational materials, including pamphlets produced in Braille and other accessible formats tailored specifically for learners with visual impairments.

Moving from awareness to access

“While learners had previously been taught about GBV through verbal presentations, school management highlighted that they lacked accessible written resources to read and study independently.

“The introduction of Braille materials marks a significant step toward equal access to justice and safety information for learners living with disabilities,” Ndhambi said.

The awareness campaign aimed not only to educate but also to eliminate prejudice against people living with disabilities and empower learners with essential life skills and protective knowledge.

Engaging through creativity

To ensure the message resonated meaningfully, the Provincial Social Crime Prevention team incorporated a creative element into the session by translating the educational content into musical performances that connected with the learners.

School management expressed deep appreciation to the SAPS for recognising the importance of accessibility, describing the handover as a turning point in ensuring visually impaired learners are equipped with the same protective information as their sighted peers.