Progress at PCCL games hindered by challenges
'When it comes to uThukela District we are always a laughing stock, because our beloved municipality doesn't care about disabled people.'
Qaphelani Dlamini
The Republic of South Africa has many good policies that are in place for making a better environment for disabled people.
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In reality, this does not exist at all, because disabled people are still being treated unfairly. Getting around in the physical world is something many of us may take for granted.
Curbs, thresholds, stairs, sidewalk gratings, obstructions, narrow passages – these are barriers we walk over, around, or through many times a day.
We may seldom think about signs, loudspeaker announcements, traffic signals, and other sources that direct us or give us necessary information.
For those of us who have physical difficulties, a curb or few stairs can be large barriers. Airport loudspeaker announcements are often difficult to understand for people with perfect hearing. For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, they may not hear them at all.
Signs, no matter how well placed or how much information they carry, do no good for someone who is visually impaired, unless they are in predictable places and can be read by touch.
The lack of consideration can also be extended to the ways people with disabilities are treated when they seek services at the municipality.
All other teams from other municipalities, who are the part of the PCCL games for disabled people, are taken care of by their municipalities with regards to playing kits and tracksuits.
When it comes to uThukela District we are always a laughing stock, because our beloved municipality doesn’t care about disabled people. When we, as disabled people, involve ourselves to sport, we don’t get any assistance, just transport to the venue and playing kits, these are simple things but not much.
The team played in the practising kit that was donated by Sphamandla Gumbi because we had nothing at all. Thank you very much to the Department of Sport and Recreation for assisting with transport.
We call for donations from local businessmen/women so that we can buy kits and tracksuits. We also plead with the Sport and Recreation Department in UThukela to come on board and assist us.
Besides the challenges, the team played very well and the next pool of games is on March 16 and 17.
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