Disability Awareness Month: MEC Fritz paints with quadriplegic mouth-painter
As part of our ongoing commemoration of Disability Awareness Month, the Western Cape MEC of Social Development, Albert Fritz, hosted an arts & craft session at the Sibongile Day & Night Centre, an ECD centre for children with disabilities.
MEC Fritz was joined by two renowned quadriplegic mouth-painters, Brenton Swarts and Martin Sodoms, who held a mouth-painting demonstration for the 19 disabled children at the Centre.
The Sibongile Day & Night Centre is one of the flagship ECD facilities funded by the Department of Social Development, and is operated by founder, Ms. Nomasango Xabanisa. The centre has 19 children with disabilities who attended the day crèche, and cares for just over 56 children in total.
As we celebrate Disability Awareness Month, DSD remains committed to providing quality services and opportunities to people living with disabilities. The Department has established a disabilities exhibition at the concourse in 7 Wale Street. It’s not only an artistic exhibition, but also offers information of how people with disabilities can access services and other opportunities.
A total of R148-million has been allocated in 2016/17 towards ever increasingly expanding services. This has allowed the department to assist 85 475 persons, up from 59 870 in the prior year. Our focus is not only on improving access, but also extending socio-economic opportunities to especially disabled youth, and increasing services for people with intellectual disabilities.
People with disabilities should have the same opportunities as everybody else, and DSD is committed to working with all our partners to expand services and opportunity. The public can seek more information by visiting any DSD local office, or by contacting the DSD hotline on 0800 220 250.
Media Enquiries:
MEC Albert Fritz
Cell: 083 307 0192
Sihle Ngobese
Spokesperson for Albert Fritz, MEC of Social Development
Western Cape Government
Tel: 021 483 9217
Cell: 076 083 6543
E-mail: Sihle.Ngobese@westerncape.gov.za
