Zebediela – Days of being squashed in a tiny mud building will soon be a thing of the past for 42 children staying at Pontsho Disability Centre in Khureng village, who will soon be accommodated in a new building with all the resources to meet their disability needs.
Deputy Minister of Women, Children and People with Disability, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu visited the new building on Friday to ensure that the centre is compliant with the universal access standards, which is one of the department's monitoring and evaluation role.
“It’s a follow up to make sure that the centre remains functional and we give and check on the children to the point that the construction is finalised and the construction is handed-over. We make sure that the rights of the children in the centres are respected and there’s compliance,” said Bogopane-Zulu.
The first of its kinds to be built in a rural area, the building showcases a best practice model for Universal Access in relation to access to physical infrastructure, education and skills development for children with disabilities.
It accommodates children between 0 to 18 years children, around the Limpopo Province.
The building has three hostels, kitchen, dining hall and toilets. It also has a computer room, where Bogopane-Zulu noted that computers would be installed and also be made available for the community to access government services.
In ensuring that there’s food security, Bogopane-Zulu highlighted that the department has asked the Department for Agriculture and Fisheries to come in and assist the centre in starting a vegetable garden.
Besides the funds raised by the department to buy furniture including curtains, beds and blankets for the children, the department has further arranged transport for children to pick them up from the centre so that they can participate in various activities outside of the centre.
Staff, who takes care of the children, will also receive basic training on disability awareness and on auxiliary service.
Limpopo MEC for Roads and Transport, Lehlogonolo Masoga, who also joined the walkabout at the centre acknowledged the department’s initiative in assisting the centre and committed to help wherever they could.
“We came here to show our support for this initiative and check on what assistance can we offer as the department,” said Masoga.
Deputy Manager of the centre, Katlego Chauke acknowledged the improvement in the centre since Bogopane-Zulu came on board.
“We are making progress, thanks to the Deputy Minister, who always visits the centre to make sure that everything is being done accordingly, it’s going to be a huge relief for us as children will now have access to the much needed resources like water, descent hostels and toilets,” said Chauke.
During the visit, Bogopane-Zulu handed over clothes for the children, soccer kits as well as stationery for the staff to use for administration. – SAnews.gov.za
