Univen Deputy Vice Chancellor (Operations) Dr JJ Zaaiman hailed the donation of laptops and motorized wheelchairs as a milestone towards bettering the learning conditions of disabled students at the institution.

Zaaiman was speaking during a function where 96 laptops, 10 electric scooters and four electric wheelchairs were handed to disabled students. The donation came about as a joint initiative between the Department of Higher Education and Training and The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

The learning assistance tools were officially handed over to the students during a special function held at the university sports hall a fortnight ago. Speaking during the handover, Zaaiman said: “Univen is constantly applying its mind to becoming the type of university we want to be. We want to be an all-inclusive university and therefore also cater for the needs of our disabled students,” said Zaaiman.

He added that it was sad to find that the biggest part of society had been designed to cater for the interests of the abled . He said the university would continue to be a model institution where the needs of the disabled were met and would continue to create an environment that would assist students to achieve their dreams. “ These computers, scooters and wheelchairs are wonderful examples of what Univen stands for, a University for all its communities."

Shakira Machabaphala, Univen Student Representative Council president, said the donation was a dream come true for them as the leadership of the student body. He said they had always been vocal about the plight of disabled students. “The sky is now the limit for our students. No more excuses exist for not achieving and we wish all our students a fruitful academic year. We are happy that their studies will be highly aided and the assistance instruments will mean the best results,” he said.

Gift Khumalo , a final year student who is partially visually impaired, was over the moon when he received his laptop. He said he had struggled all the years he had spent at the institution without learning aids. “This donation came at the right time when I am completing my degree. I can only promise the best results at the end of the year. There is no more excuse for non-performance as we have the best instruments to aid our studies,” he said.