Parents of some learners who represented South Africa in the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 in Germany this year, are calling on the North West Provincial Government to help the learners better their lives. These parents say that their children are subjected to staying home after finishing school.
Parents got to address these issues before the Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi on July 22, together with the Department of Education, in collaboration in celebrating the victory of 14 learners across the province. Keaobaka Gaselebelwe from Myra, a parent of one of the soccer players from MM Sebitloane Special School in the Greater Taung Local Municipality, said he would appreciate if the department and other sister departments help learners with resources that can assist in improving their lives because they have different talents. Not all of them are athletes or into sports.
"I think the department must meet parents halfway in purchasing resources like oak for those in carpentry to be able to make a living for themselves because they just sit home after completing school", he added.
Mosenogi emphasised that her department will have to request the Departments of Social Development and Education to make amendments to some special school policies to nurture the talents and skills of each learner leaving these schools. "Courses that these learners are doing must be accredited to make it possible for them to stand on their own because of having a certain certificate", Mosenogi said.
Another parent from Ngaka Modiri Molema district in Atamelang, Dorah James, said: "My child does not have an academy for performing her swimming practices as she uses the ground to exercise and does not have access to a swimming pool.
We cannot afford to take him to swimming classes as his parents." Each player came home at least with two medals. Kamogelo Moncho returned home with a gold medal in 5 000m and a bronze in 1 500m. Innocentia Msikinya, a table tennis player, scooped a gold in mixed doubles and silver in singles.
Goitsemodimo Mosepele and Aubrey James received gold and silver in the swimming competition, respectively. The soccer team scooped gold in seven-a-side football. The learners did all this good work under difficult conditions situations and circumstances. Msikinya and Cecilia Janse van Rensburg (Equestrian) were introduced to new equipment outside their exposal from different schools and towns in the province.
Furthermore, the football team indicated they endured racial discrimination from some of the teams they played against. However, their coach Azwindini Makananise urged them to put their minds into the game and keep their style of play, and that's how they got the first prize and brought home gold medals.
"We experienced many challenges in Germany. There was a point where other team players wanted to hit us", said a soccer player Kabo Kgomo from MM Sebitloane School.
Equestrian Coach Talita Naude appreciated all the departments organising the celebratory event for learners. Talita shared the same sentiments with athletes about challenges they encountered in a foreign country.
"They had so many obstacles because swimmers did not have pools to practice, and equestrians met new horses unfamiliar with what they were used to. They had to have the ability to adapt to horses on the other side. But, what they achieved there is phenomenal and out of this world", said Naude.
MEC Mosenogi promised to intervene in the challenges that the parents presented to her. "We are not only here to celebrate the accolades of these learners, but we commit ourselves to ensure that we develop their talents," she said.
Mosenogi further added that she would engage local municipalities to assist in building sports facilities at schools to make it conducive for learners to practice different sports. "The department will request the municipality (Greater Taung) to help where possible to build a sports ground to promote football here (Sebitloane)".
