The Mahikeng Local Municipality (MLM) demonstrated a gesture of social responsibility towards its physically impaired citizens who need movement by donating over seventy (70) wheelchairs on Tuesday this week.
The project was carried out due to a partnership between MLM and the provincial Department of Health under the leadership of MEC Madoda Sambatha and Executive Mayor Tshepiso Mphehlo, respectively. The Provincial Health Department stated regarding assisting disabled community members to improve their quality of life and to ensure their social inclusion and full participation in social life.
The local municipality tasked all thirty-five (35) Ward Councillors, through the Office of the Speaker, to identify two deserving beneficiaries for this program, which is coined as “a kind donation from the North West Department of Health,” said the statement.
Mahikeng Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Councillor Tshepiso Mphehlo, accompanied by Modisaotsile Motlhabane, on behalf of MEC Madoda Sambatha, issued wheelchairs to the deserving beneficiaries at a ceremony that was held at the Mmabatho Civic Centre on Wednesday afternoon.
Health Department MEC Madoda Sambatha has remarked that "without wheelchairs, people living with physical disabilities are often confined to their homes or beds, socially isolated, unable to use public transport, and excluded from educational opportunities, as most schools and in other instances, places of work, are not equipped to help immobile people, without wheelchairs,” said MEC Sambatha.
Executive Mayor Cllr Tshepiso Mphehlo has reflected that his municipality is grateful to MEC Madoda Sambatha and the Department of Health for this gesture that “is underpinned by our value of Ubuntu," stated Mphehlo.
Some of the recipients interviewed by the media included an elated beneficiary from Magogoe Tlhabologo, Kagisho Kwena, who excitedly stated that the wheelchair would come in handy as it would make it possible for him to perform his chores, such as going to the shop by himself, easy access to the loo and just riding around to get fresh air as well as attending to social gatherings.
Joyce Mazibuko, who resides at Mocoseng in Ward 12, could not hold back her excitement, and she stated that she has been longing to own a wheelchair for a very long time. She stressed that she struggled to raise money to buy herself a comfortable wheelchair as she has been using a crutch for a long time.” I am so happy to own a wheelchair from the Municipality and the Provincial Health Department. I have been using a crutch for years and struggling to access community health centres and shops. I am very grateful and emotionally excited that our government cares for us as citizens with disabilities," said Mazibuko.
Abel Kelaotswe, a resident of Majemantsho in Ward 21, stated that he was very grateful to Councillor Tshepiso Mphehlo. “I am very close to the Mayor. At one time, he seemed to be joking when he said to me that one day, I would receive a wheelchair. Today reality has sunk in because I am a proud owner of a brand new wheelchair,” said the elated Kelaotswe.
