The Department of Health in Mopani District celebrated the International Occupation Therapy (O.T) Day at Letaba Hospital outside Tzaneen on Friday October 27.

The day marked 100 years of the profession in South Africa and was celebrated together with the day of Oliver Tambo’s birthday.

This year’s theme was ‘100 years of changing lives and building independence.’

O.T is a profession which primarily focus on treating people with physical, emotional or social problems; such as people living with disability and are using wheel chairs.

The day started with an awareness march from Bindzulani Cross to the hospital.

Participants of the march included both patients from different hospitals, such as Maphuta, Vuxakeni, Letaba, Life Esidemini and Letaba Special School.

Other activities which took place after the march were; funwalk from Letaba Hospital to Letaba Citrus, tug of war, wheel-chair racing and a sack race.

“I’m happy that I won the wheel-chair race but my dream is to race in the Paralympics competition where are would represent South Africa. Simon Mashabela the winner of the wheel-chair race.

Mashabela also expressed his desire to get someone who can train him to compete nationally.

After all the fun and games, a formal programme was held at the hospital dining hall.

The Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) councillors and officials under the leadership of GTM Acting Mayor Moses Mahasha also graced the occasion.

Attorney and O.T Ambassador, Meshack Ramalepe, who became disabled in 2011 after getting involved in a car accident on his way to Polokwane applauded the occupational therapy team and said without them he would be a miserable man.

Ramalepe singled out Therapist, Matimba Nkuna Makhubele and said that he appreciates her support through his recovering journey and she was influential in him finally getting his law degree.

“The GTM and other organisations must stop employing people living with disability only in switchboard positions.

How do you encourage us to get educated and not want to employ us?.

We are capable of doing any job just like other people.

Ramalepe emphasised his point to the Mayor.

Mayor Mahasha also agreed to the fact that disabled people are treated unequally in both the community and in the workplace but promised to take it forward to the Labour Forum.

‘We are pleased with the outcome of the event and our main objective was to bring awareness about the profession and our patients were very happy,”said Makhubele one of the organisers of the event.

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