The Dusty Maluka Development Forum is all about helping people in the community.

This non-governmental organisation in partnership with the Emalahleni Local Municipality presented a wheelchair and other needs to a beneficiary in Phola.

The presentation was held on Friday, February 10.

The partnership has previously resulted in doing programmes for former military veterans and their families who are struggling one way or the other, in providing RDP houses, bursaries and other needs.

Recently they erected tombstones for veterans in Ga-Nala, Phola and KwaGuqa.

Thabo Mkhwanazi was one of the beneficiaries when he was presented with a wheelchair and other needs.

He said it all started in 2011 when he struggled to walk, and later he could not walk at all.

At the hospital, he was told that he needs to be fitted with a bolt in his hip.

He will be going back again for follow-up treatment on February 20. He said he was happy about the donation, and he will now be able to move around.

His mother Miriam Mkhwanazi thanked the forum for the donation as well and wish they can extend such donations to other people and families.

Trudy Xhala-Mavimbela (Emalahleni Municipality-Transversal Unit) said the unit deals with social programmes and this was one of them.

She explained that they visited the home of former struggle veteran the late Sisi Mkhwanazi, and they saw the need to donate the wheelchair as only two people are living in the house, and they are unemployed and struggling.

She added they are in consultation with Sassa to apply for a grant to assist Mkhwanazi as she is old.

Oupa Lentsoane of Dusty Maluka Development Forum said they go all out and assist in different ways in the programmes rendered.

They also ensure that the partnership with the municipality bears fruit, as they have a common purpose when they set out these programmes. He indicated that they want to bring all the disillusioned veterans and their families on board and to show them that all is not lost, and they have comprehensive programmes set to help them.

Mother of Thabo Ms Miriam Mkhwanazi said the wheelchair will go a long way in helping Thabo as she used to struggle and borrow a wheelchair from the clinic to transport him.

Clr Betty Maphosa said she was at the Mkhwanazi home to give support to the family and show unity with the forum in supporting struggling veterans’ families or their children.

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