New lease on life for city’s disabled
GUGULETHU residents who struggle with mobility were given a new lease of life yesterday, when Mayor Patricia de Lille, along with ward councillors Luvuyo Zondani and Noluthando Makasi, handed over 10 wheelchairs, 20 walkers and 10 commodes to those in need.
The beneficiaries, who are senior citizens and residents with disabilities, were identified by Zondani who worked with the Sacla Health Project NGO and saw the need to assist these residents, many of whom are bedridden and have no access to health care.
De Lille spoke to beneficiary Dideka Mangena, who was diagnosed with cerebrovascular disease and was bedridden for months without access to medical equipment. Another beneficiary was assisted after her leg was amputated and she had difficulty using her old wheelchair and ablution facilities.
“Donating this equipment today is in line with our IDP objectives of creating a caring and inclusive city by ensuring that residents with disabilities can still have mobility to go about their daily lives.
“I understand that many of the residents face challenges of mobility and access to facilities. As the City of Cape Town, we would like to do our part to help our vulnerable residents to overcome impediments and our councillors are here to assist,” said De Lille.
She said the assistance went hand-inhand with the City’s Social Development Department programmes, which offered vulnerable groups and senior citizens home-based care and recreational activities. She said these efforts were having a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable residents who were often forgotten and did not always have access to tools to help them lead a normal life.
De Lille encouraged qualifying residents to take up the City’s indigent social package and said almost R3 billion had been made available in the upcoming financial year to provide rates rebates and indigent relief to those in need.
“The indigent support package empowers vulnerable residents by helping them with municipal bills, debt arrangements and alleviating the financial burden in these tough economic times. In doing so, we enable vulnerable residents to take care of the other needs of their loved ones.
“There are many pensioners, single parents, unemployed and disabled residents who are struggling and the City understands the daily battle for many households to make ends meet,” said De Lille. – Staff Reporter