A teacher’s desperate plea
The nursery was opened after these children were sent from pillar to post by different educational centres as they were all either full or not equipped for their disabilities.
We celebrated Human Rights Day just last month, one of the rights highlighted is the right to decent education. This right is, however, being infringed for the thirteen learners at Bonolo Nursery for the Disabled in Green Village in Protea Glen.
Children with varying disabilities are subjected to a one-room shack as a classroom where there is not enough space for their wheelchairs or for them to play.
The nursery was opened after these children were sent from pillar to post by different educational centres as they were all either full or not equipped for their disabilities.
“We’ve gone to Orlando and other places but we were turned away because they say they can’t take children who can’t help themselves, from Orlando we were sent to Krugersdorp to social workers last year. They took our numbers, promised to call us back but never did,” said Govuza Khaba, a father to one of the children at the creche.
“Daphne then decided to help us and opened a creche for disabled children because they had nowhere else to go,” Khaba continued.
Daphne Mathateng, principal of Bonolo Nursery for the Disabled, was previously occupying a space at another centre until December last year according to Khaba.
Mathateng was then told that she can no longer occupy the space at the centre when the new school year began as it is not equipped for children with disabilities.
The parents and Mathateng visited Bright Future Educare Centre last week which they are hoping will be able to house the children as the centre is big with a small number of children. It is a community education centre, however, gaining access to the centre has proven difficult for Mathateng as she has made multiple requests for space at the centre but has not received help.
The Educare centre’s principal claims she cannot make decisions on her own regarding occupancy at the centre.
“I don’t have a governing body, elections will only take place in April, so I can’t make decisions without a school governing body (SGB),” said Juliette Mathole, principal at Bright Future Educare Centre.
“We feel really bad about this whole situation, we are heartbroken and we are not happy. Why does everyone keep rejecting our children? Are they not children too?,” Sindi Ntombela, a parent of one of the children at the creche, said.
Mathateng has been asking for help from Ward 53 councillor, Mthokozisi Dlamini, to no avail. “I asked the councillor for help but he’s been giving me the run around for about four to five months now. He first told me to go to the district then he told me to type a proposal for occupation at the centre I previously occupied but only for one month,” Mathateng said.
She was asked by the centre she previously occupied to come with the councillor in order to negotiate getting a new space, she sent the meeting request to Dlamini but he never showed up according to Mathateng.
Attempts were made to contact the councillor for comment but he was unfortunately unavailable. Mathole has promised to get back to the parents and Mathateng at the end of April after SGB elections with a response to their request.
