Lottery provide fitted car

NELSPRUIT – Difficulties in using public transport for Ama Wheelies members will soon be a thing of the past. They have received a free brand-new Mercedes Benz Sprinter specially designed for wheel-chair users, generosity of the National Lottery on March 19.

Ama Wheelies is both a home and rehabilitation centre for disabled persons, especially those with spinal injuries due to traumatic accidents and other accidents in the province.

“We had been trying to get a wheelchair user-friendly and accessible vehicle since the launch of this organization. We applied for funding from Lottery and they approved our application last year October,” explained Bonginkosi Mlombo, chairperson of the organisation.

“This vehicle will help us pilot Ama Wheelies efficiently and reach out to more people in wheelchairs in different parts of the province and beyond promoting meaning empowerment of disabled people,” he added.

The vehicle can accommodate four people in wheelchairs, three able-bodied passengers and the driver. It has a tied-down safety systems for balancing the wheelchairs while the vehicle is in motion. It also has buckle-up systems like normal safety belts for users. Its double door at the back has a wheelchair lifter.

Mlombo says the bus is safer, spacious and very advanced. “It’s more safe than using a normal bus or car,” he said.

When asked about the origins of the design, Mlombo stated that they – Ama Wheelies – drew their own designs which were approved together with their application by the Lottery Fund.

“We made recommendations on how we want our bus to be designed in terms of safety and accessibility,” he said. He also called on both public and private stakeholders to assist the organisation in whichever way to make their dreams a reality.

Programmes of the organisation include poverty alleviation where they plan to distribute food parcels among needy wheelchair users, ICT communication and training project to provide computer skills and literacy to members as well as a self-help centre in Lydenburg.

The organisation currently has 45 registered members in the province and only three of them live at the centre.

“We would love to have more but the facility cannot accommodate more, hence we are engaging with Thaba Chweu Local Municipality to get land where we can develop a multifunctional AmaWheelies facility, which will include a sport centre, computer training and self-help centre to provide a 24-hour service for quadratics in Mpumalanga and beyond,” he said.

“The centre will help to grow full potential of people on wheelchairs,” he said.

He also called on both private and public entities to donate empty printer cartridges to them which they recycle and re-manufacture with Green Able Pty Ltd in an effort to make ends meet.

For more information contact the organization on their website: www.amawheelies.co.za or email help@amawheelies.co.za