WITH a groundbreaking programme launched in September 2024, Engen, in partnership with the Disability Economic Empowerment Trust (DEET), has transformed the lives of 200 people with disabilities, including those from Durban South, with its Driver Training and Job Readiness Programme. Focused on empowerment and inclusion, the programme is breaking down barriers and opening doors to economic empowerment.

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Spanning KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, North West, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga, the programme has provided participants with life and employability skills. A hundred participants received practical driving lessons, while all 200 benefited from a comprehensive job-readiness curriculum, including CV writing, digital literacy, workplace skills and interview skills.

In the Durban South, the impact is already felt. Out of 20 students in the driver training course, 11 passed their learner’s licence tests and seven have obtained their driver’s licences, with others awaiting their test dates. The programme uniqueness shines through its robust dedication to accessibility and inclusivity. People with physical or sensory disabilities also used the programme through the use of modified vehicles, assistive technology and sign interpreters.

Over 30 assistive devices were also provided by Engen, helping to enhance the mobility, independence, and confidence of beneficiaries.
Thabiso Phetuka, CEO of DEET, said this programme opened doors that were previously closed. “It is about restoring dignity, agency and access to economic opportunity,” Phetuka said.

He added that their partnership is giving real hope to people living with disability, who had not been able to access the job market because they were lacking skills or mobility. Olwethu Mdabula, Engen’s CSI manager, said this initiative reflects their commitment to creating meaningful, long-term impact.

“By addressing key barriers like mobility, we’re building pathways to employment and entrepreneurship,” said Mdabula.

She added that it is not just a matter of non-discrimination but of creating genuine opportunities. As the programme continues to grow, the stories of empowerment and progress from communities like Durban South are a testament to what is possible when organisations can come together for the betterment of the community and its residents.

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