Home for physically disabled gets much-needed revamp
The Sibaya Community Trust was instrumental in ensuring the renovations were done. These included the resident's rooms where the passages were tiled, walls painted, the bathrooms, showers and toilets were revamped, and all the aluminum windows were repaired.
FOR almost three decades the Merewent Cheshire Home in Wentworth has aimed to provide the ultimate care for its physically disabled residents.
But, with minimal funds, any major repairs and renovations of the more than 70-year-old building, had been impossible.
Winnie Mkhize, the home manager said this led her to reach out to the Sibaya Community Trust for assistance in 2021. The application was approved earlier this year.
“We are really grateful to the trust for hearing our plea. The building was in a poor state, and we just did not have the money to do any major renovations,” she said.
“All the resident’s rooms and the passages were tiled and the walls painted, the bathrooms, showers, and toilets were revamped, and all the aluminum windows were repaired. They also installed JoJo tanks with a pump and filtration system. They repaired the holes in the roof, installed automated gates, and sorted out all the electrical and plumbing issues.
“However, one of the greatest gifts for our residents was the patio. An entrance to the patio was made by cutting through the wall and putting in a sliding door and gate. It also serves as a fire exit, which we needed,” she said.
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Mkhize said the home was the brainchild of Leonard Cheshire, a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot, and group captain during World War II, and a philanthropist.
“During his visit to South Africa from England, he identified that during the apartheid era, there were no homes for people of colour, specifically those who had physical disabilities. His dream was for a home to be opened.
“He worked with a group of people in South Africa, such as Professor Fatima Mayet, and she had promised him that when he returned, there would be a home. The home was officially opened on June 1, 1994. The home was opened to all races, there was no bias or discrimination,” she said.
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Mkhize said the home catered for people with physical disabilities and has 35 residents, 23 men, and 12 women, aged between 18 and 59.
Mkhize said the home rendered various services to the residents.
“We have an amazing team of professionals, that includes a social worker, nurses, and caregivers. We offer social welfare programmes such as counseling, group activities, and therapy.
“We also organise sport and recreation events and celebrate important events to make the residents feel as normal as possible,” she said.
Mkhize said the home is a non-profit organisation, which is registered with the Department of Social Development (DSD) and received a monthly subsidy, but it is insufficient to maintain the home.
“The subsidy amount does not meet our monthly expenses. We have a deficit of about R40 000 every month. We have tried to cut costs, but our food alone costs about R25 000 a month, and the cost of food continues to increase.
“We do have wonderful sponsors, who provide a weekly meal. If we had more assistance, it would be of greater benefit. We also have other needs, such as for the bus, which is 17 years old, that continuously breaks down, to be repaired, as well as curtains and bedding for the resident’s rooms,” she said.
If you would like to assist the home, call 031 468 1667 or email socialwork@merewentcheshire.co.za
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