Disabled people in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Momphati district expressed happiness that they could now manage to move from one point to the next after they received assistive devices at Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital in Vryburg, on Thursday last week.

The devices were procured by the provincial social development department in partnership with Epilepsy South Africa as part of intervening in the lives of those living with disabilities.

Some of the beneficiaries received wheelchairs, others got crutches and artificial legs that would help them move by themselves. The department said that about R700000 was spent on the assistive devices and they were handing out the first batch.

One of the beneficiaries, Bennet Wynberg, 40, received an artificial leg and he said that his life was bound to change. “I count myself lucky to be among the first group of people with disabilities to receive this device.

I will, from now on, be free to attend funerals and other public gatherings without looking down on myself,” he said. Wynberg is a father of one child and depends on the disability grant for a living.

Other beneficiaries also expressed gratitude that they had benefited in the exercise and would be able to lead decent lives. Social development, women, children and people with disabilities MEC Mosetsana gape Mokomele-Mothibi said that her department had seen fit to sign a service level agreement with Epilepsy South Africa to provide assistive devices so that disabled people could also have a chance at mobility and other things.

“Earlier this year, we provided funding to the tune of R700 000 in accordance with the service level agreement we entered into with Epilepsy South Africa to provide assistive devices to five service points in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and this is the beginning of that exercise,” she said. Mokomele-Mothibi added that a total of 75 people with disabilities had received the assistive devices since Wednesday.

Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital chief executive Zack Esterhuizen applauded the department’s partnership with Epilepsy South Africa.

“This partnership will continue to benefit many people.

“We can’t adequately provide for these devices due to budget constraints,” he said.

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