Sandton CEO experiences wheelchair life

Father of three and CEO of Sun International Anthony Leeming got the chance to experience the challenges of wheelchair users. Leeming spent the day in a wheelchair at their Sandton head office on March 30, in support of Little Eden Society’s annual CEO Wheelchair Campaign.

The annual campaign is held each March to commemorate Intellectual Disability Awareness Month and raise much-needed funds for the non-profit organisation, which provides care to 300 intellectually disabled children and adults. The native Johannesburg resident expressed his support for the disability sector. Leeming believes that Sun International, as an organisation that interfaces with the public, must accommodate people who live with disabilities, especially those who use a wheelchair for mobility.

“We want to be one of those corporates that leads the way in helping people with disabilities, and recognising if our workplace is truly suited to people with disabilities,” he said. Balancing his morning cup of coffee while manoeuvring his wheelchair proved frustrating, as did opening doors while wheeling his wheelchair into rooms. He said he now better understands the challenges that people who use a wheelchair face on a day-to-day basis.

“Meeting with Kgomotso Ramongane, an employee who relies on a wheelchair to be mobile, and listening to her story about her battle to find a job and the positive impact Sun International had on her life, after she landed her first job with us after varsity in 2018, was phenomenal.”

Ramongane, who is in her early 30s and a receptionist at Sun International’s head office, chatted to the Sandton Chronicle about her challenges. The Cosmos City resident said she is fiercely independent.

“I do my own shopping,” she said, “but find that I need to ask another customer or find an employee to help me reach items that are on high shelves.” Sandton has too few ramps, she added, and often these are too steep. “This means I still need to find someone willing to assist me.”

Her advice to architects and city planners is to get at least three people in wheelchairs of varying strength to test the steepness of ramps to ensure they can accommodate everyone. “Some people in wheelchairs are weak and may not be able to manoeuvre themselves up steep inclines.”

As a result of his experience, Leeming is determined that Sun International touches the lives of more people living with disabilities by offering them work. He challenged the CEO of City Lodge, Andrew Widegger, and the CEO of Growthpoint Properties, Estienne de Klerk, to take up the challenge of spending a workday in a wheelchair for a worthy cause.

Sandton-based Disability Connect said 90% of people living with disabilities, eligible to join the workforce are
unemployed. The organisation told the Sandton Chronicle that employers are generally unaware of the challenges faced by people with both visible and invisible disabilities and are unsure of measures that need to be taken to advance disability inclusion.

It said the annual Disability Career Expo, held on May 10 and 11 at Nasrec, brings together corporate South Africa and learners and graduates living with disabilities.

Contact: 011 467 3341.

Related Article:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/329000/sandton-business-community-forum/