As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, not all its people are happy. People living with disabilities in Mpumalanga still feel neglected. Young people living with disabilities have mixed feelings with regard to the benefits of democracy.
The Mpumalanga Blind Skills Development Hub in Pienaar, KaMsogwaba, outside Mbombela, urged the provincial government to prioritize people living with disabilities for them to contribute meaningfully to the provincial agenda.
Mpumalanga Blind Skills Development Hub offers computer skills for the visually impaired people. And others are making sculptures.
But the young people living with disabilities are still faced with challenges that include infrastructure and funding.
“Thirty years of democracy, the youth of 1976 fought a good fight, we are free today just because of that. But the disability sector is not catered for, none or whatsoever because you find that people living with disability are still struggling. There is nothing as far as help is concerned, we are pleading, seeking help as far as government institutions are concerned.”
“Without fear or favor, there definitely others with disabilities that are being left out or not being focused on based on what they look like and their environment that they are in. We are all human, we all deserve to enjoy this democracy.”
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A 26-year-old Sibusiso Mogale is singing a different tune. He is a well known commercial farmer. Mogale says the sky is the limit.
Mogale was born without hands. He uses his feet to plough vegetables and sell them to well established supermarkets in the province. Mogale expressed his gratitude to the democratic government for opening doors for people with disabilities like him.
“Our 30 years of democracy, I am benefiting now as a farmer because I’ve been allocated a farm. I want to be amazing on what I do and I don’t want to form part of the stereotype of shame, he needs this he needs that.”
Mogale’s age mate, Martin Shabangu, is visually impaired. He teaches computer skills to other blind and partially blind people in KaMsogwaba. Shabangu too, is grateful for the opportunities he got.
“As a person living with disability for myself I can say is useful to me because today as I am speaking I am a facilitator at MBSDH. I am teaching computer while I’m blind. I am glad that other people who are blind are getting jobs.”
Mpumalanga province has only 18 schools that cater for learners with disabilities.
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Reporting by Oupa Masilela
