‘Ignorance is the worst disability’

Some of the complaints from the disabled committee were that even community halls in the townships are not wheelchair friendly.

November 29, 2018

Fathima Zubane 1 minute read

Siyanda Khumalo recited his own poem entitled 'What time is it'.

A disability parliament was held in Moth Hall in preparation of Disability Day on which will be commemorated on December 3. The main aim for this event was to bring the disabled and government sectors together, to bridge the gap between the two parties in terms of what the local government can do to better facilitate disabled persons.

The disabled committee urged parents of physically challenged children not to hide them from society because of their disabilities. Mr Langa, Secretary of Disabled Persons in Endumeni outlined their problems when it comes to using public transportation.

The hall was full of blue warriors who have not let their disability get the better of them.

“Taking taxis and buses is the worst for us, as we get little or no assistance. Weare tired of being carried in and out of taxis, we need our own special buses. Shops in our area are not wheelchair friendly, they have no access forwheelchairs nor do they have toilets for the disabled.” Nokuthula Hadebe, theChairperson Of Disabled Persons in Endumeni cried about the services theirreceive at government departments especially the SASSA department.

Dr Bedassi, Speaker Khumalo, Cllr Mahaye (Ward 2 councilor), Cllr Xaba, Simpiwe Xaba and other government officials.

“We get turned away when we visit offices here in Dundee and we are told to goto our nearest SASSA office, mine being in Glencoe and we don’t have adisabled facilitator in Glencoe,” she said.
Some of the complaints from the disabled committee were that evencommunity halls in the townships are not wheelchair friendly, they don’t havesports grounds made especially for the disabled nor gym facilities.