The Department of Women Children and People with Disabilities, in partnership with Airports Company South Africa, today presented customised wheelchairs and folding canes to learners at Filadelfia Secondary School and beneficiaries nominated by the Muscular Dystrophy South Africa.
The donation consisted of 43 manual and three powered-wheelchairs, together with 25 folding canes. It is a continuation of Airports Company South Africa’s ten-year-old Assistive Device Donation Programme, supported by the Department of Women Children and People with Disabilities, from which more than 10 000 people with disabilities have benefited.
As we celebrate South Africa’s 20 years of democracy, the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, under the leadership of the Deputy Minister Hon. Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, continues to work hand-in-hand with Airports Company South Africa to ensure the company fulfils its Corporate Social Investment maxim, ‘Moving People, Changing Lives’, by providing assistive devices for people with disabilities. This maxim was realised when the learners from Filadelfia Secondary School, Muscular Dystrophy South Africa, their parents and caregivers, saw obstacles to inclusion being removed through the donation of these assistive devices.
“The Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities is proud to be part of the private-public partnerships, like the one we have with Airports Company South Africa. The success of a partnership of this nature can only be felt through the impact it has on its beneficiaries. More than 10 000 people who have benefited from Airports Company South Africa’s Assistive Device Donation Programme have been able to find new ways to test their abilities as they become more self-sufficient,” said Hon. Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu.
Filadelfia Secondary School for the Disabled and Muscular Dystrophy South Africa cater for individuals with disabilities that include muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and spina bifida.
“Providing means of mobility for people with disabilities has helped to create a barrier-free environment where people with disabilities to are able to move more freely. Our donation of wheelchairs, walking canes, braille machines and printers is part of our commitment reaching as many people with disabilities as possible,” said Unathi Batyashe-Fillis, Spokesperson: Airports Company South Africa.
Airports Company South Africa is committed to the long-term support of the disability sector and, in addition to the Assistive Device Donation Programme, has been the headline sponsor of Wheelchair Tennis South Africa for the past ten years and of the Disability Trade and Lifestyle Expo & Conference for the past nine years.
Filadelfia’s headmaster, Mr Willem van der Merwe, said, “The school is privileged to have been chosen by Airports Company South Africa for this generous donation. These wheelchairs will contribute significantly to our pupils as they will now be able to move around far more freely and participate in school activities. It will improve their educational opportunities as they approach the end of their secondary school education and extend into tertiary level and into the employment sector. For this we thank Airports Company South Africa and the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities for providing the means to help our students integrate into society.”
For more information, please contact:
Unathi Batyashe-Fillis, Airports Company South Africa Spokesperson
Tel: +27 11 921 6087
Cell: +27 79 882 7307
E-mail: unathi.batyashe-fillis@airports.co.za
Emilie Olifant
Office of the Deputy Minister
Tel: +27 12 310 5201
Cell: +27 82 903 9250
E-mail: emilie.olifant@dwcpd.gov.za
