People with disabilities in Alex must report abuses, says Sergeant Simphiwe Mbatha

People living with disabilities have been urged to come forward to Alexandra Police Station to report any kind of abuse from the community that is directed their way.

This was the word from Alexandra police communications officer, Sergeant Simphiwe Mbatha when he addressed a Disability Awareness Day at the East Bank Hall on 7 November organised by the 19th Avenue-based Ithabeleng Organisation for Disability.

“You need not be afraid to come to the station if you have suffered some abuse from whatever quarter in the community. We have a specially-made place where people with disabilities can open their cases and they will find well-trained officers to take their issues,” he said.

Mbatha praised the hosting of the Disability Awareness Day and wished it could be held more often than once a year as it was helpful in creating awareness around issues of disability and people living with disabilities.

“Holding these days more often and frequently would go a long towards addressing the stigmas that people with disabilities endure from some members of the public. Disability or no disability, we’re all human beings and we all deserve to treated with the utmost respect.”

Mbatha also urged the community to work closely with the police so that together ‘we can flush out the criminal element within our midst’. “The community knows the criminals and their hideouts, some of them are our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers, our uncles and aunts, and nephews and nieces.”

Sharon Modisaitsile, a disabled Alex motivational speaker, said her own success should be proof enough that there was life after disability. “I personally would not like to see sulky people that let their disabilities get in the way of doing things for themselves.

“Granted, we may need help here and there from our abled counterparts but it does not do us any good when we sit back and sulk over our disabilities. Disabled as I am, I do most of the chores in the house for myself. Those I don’t do is only out of laziness,” she said.

Modisaitsile’s words were echoed by Onkarabile Thabiso Pheko, a disabled businessman and former national wheelchair basketball player, who said he was also a living example of how not to let your disabilities get the better of you.

“I am into various business projects, one of which is manufacturing shoes from scratch. I am also involved in projects designed to give back to the community of Alex which made me what I am today. I will not forget my roots,” he said.