MAKHADO – The deputy chairperson of people with disabilities within the Makhado region, Mr Susu Wilson Tshirangwana of Ha-Madodonga, claims that, as disabled people, they were promised heaven and earth by the Makhado Municipality.

Mr Tshirangwana of the Maita Zwitoma Disabled People’s Organisation told Mirror that, during a meeting with the Makhado Municipality on December 2, they were promised that a bus would collect people at their respective bus stops in the Sinthumule/Kutama area and take them to the Peter Mokaba Stadium for Disability Day celebrations. “We were told that the bus would start collecting people at Tshikombani, Makhado and then at Sinthumule/Kutama,” he said.

The ageing Tshirangwana said that, while people with disabilities were waiting for the bus in vain at Sinthumule/Kutama, he received a message that they could disperse, as no bus had been arranged to collect them. “When I went to the municipality to ask them why they did not inform us in time that the bus was no longer coming, I was told that the municipality acted on the directive they received from provincial level.

“This is very bad; it is an insult to us. This is victimising people with disabilities. It seems as if they enjoy making us their morons, since it has happened for the third time,” he said.

Several attempts by Mirror to get comment from the current municipal PRO, Mr Ntsieni Peter Magwala, were fruitless. He had promised to phone Mirror, but he never did before our going to press.