Mzwakali strives to get the disabled mobile

Living with a disability for 25 years has inspired Nolonwabo Mzwakali to assist those who have a similar condition to get the help they need.

Mzwakali from Ngqamakhwe uses a wheelchair for mobility, after she was paralysed from her waist down.

She started an NPO Likuthi Disability Development in 2017 with the hope of assisting people who live with a disability.

Mzwakali said: “The inspiration behind the establishment of the organisation came about when I was contacted by a long-time friend who struggled to get a job due to her physical disability and not owning a wheelchair.

“She was so demotivated and depressed, because she felt helpless and useless.

“I had to do something. I bought her a manual wheelchair, so that she could be mobile.”

Mzwakali said the initiative expanded as she found out that there were parents, especially young parents who were having difficulties accepting their children due to their disability.

“I tend to hold awareness campaigns in rural areas, where I teach people about disabilities, as there is a certain way of treating a person or child living with a disability.”

She uses her connections to ask for financial assistance from councillors and business people.

“So far I have managed to get five wheelchairs that have been donated to people who are in need.”

Her organisation does not solely focus in Ngqamakhwe, but also other parts of the province.

“There was an incident of a child from Dutywa who was physically disabled and lived with her grandmother. The grandmother was also hearing-impaired.

“The child’s mother took the child to live with her. One day she left the child alone when a fire broke out and the child unfortunately burnt to death.

“The family could not afford a funeral for the child, so I had to assist them in getting funds to bury the child.”

Mzwakali said challenges she encounters were a lack of funds, and the majority of people living with a disability she had come across were illiterate or were unemployed.

“Some end up suffering from depression because of being unemployed. I have attempted to approach the councillor to organise a site that I could use, so that I can have community projects that would keep the unemployed people occupied,” she said.

Mzwakali said she hoped her development project could expand so that she has accommodation where she will hold more projects and events for people living with disability.

“I approach people who are disabled. I find them on a daily basis. Some of them submit applications to local hospitals to get a wheelchair, but their applications tend to be delayed,” she said.

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