The Tembisa Self-Help Association of the Disabled (T-SHAD) residents and workers have downed tools and threatened to embark on a go-slow.
The residents, made up of people living with disabilities, told this newspaper after they had picketed at the centre on Monday that they were only fighting for their rights.
On top of their list of demands was the immediate removal of the centre manager who had to be replaced by someone living with disability.
“We are calling for the removal of the centre manager, because we believe that a person suitable enough for this position is someone who is also living with disability, just like us. We don’t have anything against the current manager, but our issue with him is that he isn’t disabled and therefore doesn’t understand us and will never understand how people living with disabilities operate,” said one of the members who preferred not to be named in fear of victimisation.
T-SHAD is a community-based development programme that was established in 1990 with the sole purpose of helping people with disabilities thrive.
The centre is also home to a number of people living with disabilities.
“We work here at the centre with normal bodied people and yet our salary scales are not the same. We are given way too little and are undermined because of our situation. We are saying enough is enough. We want some changes here. Things were better before but now they have changed to the worst.
“Previously, we had a routine menu that we followed, but now, we are being fed fish every day and dry bread, no butter or jam,” added the group’s spokesperson.
Furthermore, they demanded that there be transparency and all donations collected be declared and made known to everyone.
“We are aware that the department of Social Development is giving money to the centre and that some money is made through donations. But what we don’t know is how much is really there and how it is spent. We want receipts for every purchase.
“We are also aware that our cars are being misused and have turned into moving taverns.
“Above all, this is a centre for the disabled but there aren’t many people living with disabilities working here. This needs to change,” said the spokesperson.
The centre manager has opted to set up an appointment with this paper to clarify some of the issues.
