Desmond Hardnick is lifted into the new bus. With him is
(left) Mario Davey, manager of Kumba’s Saldanha Development Centre in Vredenburg, and Nigel September, driver for Siyabonga
.
One of the core functions of the registered NPO Siyabonga Care Village in Vredenburg is to improve the lives of people living with disabilities.
Projects focusing on disability at Siyabonga include Sisonke Protective Workshop, 2Care Day Care for adults with disabilities, Special Kids Day Care Centre, Huis Cornelius residential care for adults with physical disabilities and Huis Isabella residential care for adults with severe intellectual disabilities.
The biggest challenge for any person with wheelchair bound disabilities is accessible transportation – a vehicle which is adapted to accommodate people with wheelchairs without much strain or difficulty.
As an organization working daily with 110 children and adults with disabilities, the need for customised transportation is a huge concern.
The manual lifting of attendees with disabilities into vehicles has become increasingly difficult.
After becoming aware of the Siyabonga’s plight, mining company Kumba Iron Ore, a member of Anglo American, provided the much needed funds to Siyabonga to purchase a new quantum bus, equipped with an electronic lift.
In a statement Kumba said they believe that they need to be a developmental partner for the communities in which they operate.
The vehicle can accommodate three wheelchairs and four seated persons.
Siyabonga endeavours to reach out and provide transportation to events, meetings and workshops for community members with disabilities.
The impact of the new bus on the recipients and their daily programmes and activities has been very positive.
Improvements have been physical and logistical – strained backs due to the lifting of people and transporting wheelchairs in separate vehicles, non-attendance at events and activities or the inability to go shopping as result of transportation concerns, are no longer a factor.
“Siyabonga Care Village staff and all the persons with disabilities want to thank Kumba for this transforming step to independence. The new bus serves its purpose of improving all our lives for the better,” said Chrisna du Plessis, founder and manager of Siyabonga Care Village
