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Thohoyandou girl gifted life-changing wheelchair

Takalani Marevhula receives a wheelchair donation from the SAPS Women's Network and Men for Change, bringing independence to her daily life.

LIMPOPO – Life just got a lot brighter for 19-year-old Takalani Marevhula from Halambani-Mahagala village.

Thanks to the kind-hearted efforts of the Tshaulu SAPS Women’s Network and Men for Change, Takalani now has a brand-new wheelchair, giving her the freedom to move around her home and even make trips to the outdoor toilet.

Captain Jimmy Ndou, who heads visible policing at the Tshaulu Police Station, told CV that a few years ago, he witnessed a young disabled man struggling to get out of a taxi without a wheelchair while applying for his ID in Vuwani.

Deeply moved, Captain Ndou bought a wheelchair for the man, only to later find out that a local municipality had already donated one.

Instead of letting the wheelchair go unused, Ndou kept it, hoping to find someone else in need. That opportunity came last December during a community meeting in Mushiru village.

While speaking to parents about gender-based violence and education, he heard about Takalani – a disabled young woman whose family couldn’t afford a wheelchair.

He immediately knew the wheelchair had found a home.

The wheelchair handover became a community affair, with Ndou, Tshaulu station commander Lieutenant Colonel Mmboneni Mudimeli, and acting traditional leader Vhamusanda Patrick Tshidino Lambani taking the lead. Mudimeli praised his team for their compassion and said he hoped their generosity would inspire more support for the disabled and vulnerable residents in the area.

Lambani also shared the village’s gratitude. “It’s amazing to see someone from outside our community thinking about our struggles and doing something to help. Takalani’s life has truly changed for the better.”

For Takalani’s family, the wheelchair has changed everything. A representative of the family, Solly Marevhula, couldn’t hold back his thanks to the police team. “We just didn’t have the money to buy a wheelchair, and without one, Takalani was stuck in her bed. We had to carry her to the toilet and outside. This donation has made life so much easier – for her and for us.”

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