WATERVAL – The Louis Trichardt Rotary Club practically demonstrated vhuthu in reality, when they donated 24 wheelchairs to the elderly and young individuals with disabilities who are being looked after by the Elim Hlanganani Society for the Care of the Aged.

The event took place at the ESM Hall in Waterval last Thursday.

During the handing over, 20 blankets donated by M Premjee and Son were also given to pensioners between 90 and 100 years old. Twelve wheelchairs were given to young children with disabilities and the remaining went to the elderly.

The President of the Rotary Club, Mr Godfrey Went, said that it was the first time for the Rotary Club to donate wheelchairs to a particular society structure in remote areas. “As we are now impressed with the wonderful job which is being done by the Society for the Aged, we will see what we can do in future, because we have seen that they are doing a fantastic, professional job without adequate resources,” he said.

Went said that, as the Rotary Club is a community organisation, one of its members, Mr Poog Henning, briefed the club about the need for wheelchairs of the historically disadvantaged elderly and young people with disabilities.

One of the beneficiaries, Given Maluleke, told Mirror: “I am now feeling great to receive a new wheelchair from the Rotary Club because the one that I have been using was too old.” Mr Henning, who co-ordinated the presentations, said: “I have known these people for years and I knew that they needed wheelchairs. Today, I am happy to see individuals who cannot move from one place to the other being wheeled around by relatives, as it was difficult to carry them around,” he said.