TONGA – Deaf people said they are fed up with the discrimination and abuse as they claimed that they are experiencing daily within their communities.
This comes after one of their members was brutally killed during a business robbery at a shop that is own by a Somalian at Bosfontein in Nkomazi Local Municipality.
This led to deaf people from different places in the region and community members to picket outside the Tonga court, opposing a bail application of the suspects that had been arrested in connection with the murder.
The provincial chairperson of deaf association in the province, Mr Nkosinathi Ndlovu, indicated that the country still has a long way to go when it comes to ensuring that people who are living with disabilities and those who are deaf that their rights are respected.
“Abuse of deaf people in our community is getting out of control. Recently we lost one of our members, Mr Bongani Ngcane (28) after he was shot at three times. As deaf people, we need to lobby against the discrimination and abuse of people with disabilities as some of them are abused sexually, some of their cases are not taken seriously which is a violation of their rights,” said Ndlovu.
It’s reported that in Mpumalanga the issues that are affecting them have not been resolved and as deaf people, they feel bad that their voice is not heard.
They complain that leaders only recognized them only when they need something from them.
“We will not allow deaf people to be discriminated and abused. We are opposed to the magistrate granting the killers bail as I think the case of murder must be resolved. Many people out there should be involved in policing forums to support the deaf community in order to support police to arrest killers,” he said.
Ndlovu requested the department of safety and security, justice and constitutional development to assist in solving issues of people who are living with disabilities, especially deaf people.Ngcane was laid to rest last Saturday.
