IN an effort to create social cohesion and to promote diversity as well as equality and mutual understanding, learners from special needs schools and their counterparts from mainstream ones were brought together at the Pinetown Civic Hall on Thursday, March 5.

The chairperson of the eThekwini Municipality Disability Forum (EMDF), Lindokuhle Mkhize, encouraged able-bodied learners to treat their peers with disabilities equally because “they are human beings just like you”.

Mkhize raised awareness against the bullying and discrimination of children with disabilities and encouraged their able-bodied peers to be more understanding of their different needs and be accommodating.

EMDF secretary Siyabonga Sosibo said such events as Thursday’s one are important and should continue to be hosted.

Mandisa Nzimande from the Pinetown Library promoted the culture of reading among the attending learners.

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“Reading is not only about reading for yourself but it is also about reading for others, especially those who cannot read. The more you read, the more you learn and the more you know,” said Nzimande.

Jabu Ndlovu from the municipality’s social and community development unit spoke out against the bullying, discrimination of and use of derogatory words when referring to people with disabilities.

“It is important that you get to know each other and to learn about other children’s disabilities or abilities because they are able in another way, they are differently abled,” said Ndlovu.

The social cohesion diversity event was organised by the Pinetown Library.

Schools which attended the event are:

• Pinetown Senior Primary
• Pinetown Independent
• Browns Special School
• West-park Special School

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