Disability only propelled him to achieve more
The Ehlanzeni District Municipality (EDM) recently launched the Mayoral Disability Awards to recognise its employees for their outstanding work. Vusumuzi Nkosi of the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM) won the award this year for people living and working with disabilities.
EDM’s executive mayor, Jester Sildell, announced the winner on Wednesday July 21 in Mbombela. The award was handed over to Nkosi by TCLM’s municipal manager, Sphiwe Matsi, on Thursday in Lydenburg.
Nkosi is affectionally known as D’bongz by friends and colleagues. He completed his matric through the Adult Basic Education and Training route after dropping out of school due to a shooting accident that cost him his leg. He was hit by a stray bullet in Tembisa when he was 17, during the political unrest that engulfed the country in 1995.
The nominees in the various categories undergo a rigorous scrutiny and selection process that involves ghost visits and anonymous phone calls to determine the standard of service rendered to the public.
“I am grateful for the award. It means my contribution is being acknowledged,” said Nkosi. He also said people living with disabilities must never allow their condition to prevent them from pursuing their dreams and aspirations.
“It was difficult. I had to readjust my life, because now I had to rely on other people to help me with things that I used to do for myself. As part of starting over, my family decided to move me to Lydenburg,” he said.
His passion has always been helping others. Upon arrival in Lydenburg in 2000, he became a home-based care volunteer and assisted people infected with HIV and Aids to access their medication, and provided counselling. He was part of the Extended Public Works Programme stationed at the Lydenburg community library in 2016. During his volunteering work, he completed a computer management course in his quest for knowledge and self-improvement. When the position of switchboard operator was advertised at the Lydenburg municipality offices, he applied and was appointed in 2017.
Nkosi said people living with disabilities have a role to play in the various sectors of the economy. “There are countless opportunities available for people living with disabilities to explore. Begging is an old approach and no longer an option. There are courses to be pursued in line with your disability that can open doors for you. Society must acknowledge the reality that people with disabilities do exist and are here to stay. Stop hiding them, because some we only see during the disability grant paydays,” he said.
