Ithabeleng hits the ground running with assistance for the disabled in Alex

The practice of hiding away disabled children under lock and key in their homes was the trigger that drove Christina Matsheletja (57) to found Ithabeleng Organisation for Disability.

Matsheletja said she often had conversations with mothers in Alexandra who made it no secret that they concealed their disabled children fearing that their peers would make fun of their disabilities.
“I then decided to found Ithabeleng [which means ‘love yourselves’] and I roped in other people to assist me such as Joseph Setlhake, himself a person living with disabilities, as he would be able to relate closely with other people living with disabilities.”

She added that she also approached Thomas Mahlatji.
“People living with disabilities will readily accept and appreciate another person living with disabilities and are bound to open up easily to someone like them, and this has worked well as we’re making inroads in rescuing and assisting children with disabilities,” added Matsheletja, who is also a member of the board and holds the position of treasurer.

The organisation’s communications officer Tiisetso Matsheletja, daughter of Mme Christina, said Ithabeleng was founded on 25 September 2019 and launched in January this year.
“We immediately hit the ground running as we worked on our first project with organisations such as Northcliff Rotary Club to distribute wheelchairs and crutches to the disabled to make them mobile,” said Tiisetso (27).

Besides the donation of wheelchairs and crutches, Ithabeleng also delivered food parcels for the disabled with donations from Boxer Store in Alex, Spar in Lyndhurst, Freedom Supermarket in Pan, Watloo Supermarket in Pan, Gift of the Givers, Lekota Funerals, Rays of Hope and Save the Children.
“These organisations also helped with various logistical requirements at our Disability and Awareness Day last week,” she added.

Chairperson of the board, Mahlatji said Ithabeleng had since found schools for seven children with disabilities who now attend Nokuthula School in Lyndhurst and Hope School in Westcliff.
“We would like to see the organisation playing a major role in the life of disabled people such as sending them to schools for education and ensuring they also acquire the requisite skills after school to participate in the country’s economic life,” Mahlatji added.

Tiisetso concluded by saying she looked forward to the day when Ithabeleng would have its own office as it currently operated from Setlhake’s house. “We long for the day we can have a space of our own as an organisation,” she said.

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Ithabeleng donates food parcels to people living with disabilities in Alexandra