By REGINALD KANYANE
North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Elizabeth Mokua handed over the caretakership agreement to the Tsholetsa Disability Care Centre in Tlhabane, Rustenburg. Mokua said this is the first of its kind for the department.
She further said the centre operates from one of the department’s under-utilised buildings that was previously Iteko Special School. Mokua added that the caretaker agreement means that the department will still own the building, while the Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) that runs the centre will be renting it at no cost.
“This arrangement will run for 36 months with an option for renewal. The centre, which has 76 beneficiaries, runs a number of skills development programmes that are aimed at empowering persons with disabilities.
“These include, among others, arts and crafts, aluminium manufacturing; brick-making; gardening as well as entrepreneurship and financial literacy courses. I would like to commend the centre manager and founder, Richard Tlhogwe, for his bravery and vision.
“As we commemorate the day dedicated to a true selfless leader, Nelson Mandela, we should appreciate the work that you are doing that embodies the principles of Tata Madiba,” she said.
Mokua said instead of Tlhogwe to just focus on himself, he made a bold move and chose not to just empower himself, but also extended services by assisting people with disability and many others related designated groups from the area.
She said poverty continues to be a thorny issue that needs to be eradicated and said the centre was doing well in the fight against the scourge by establishing a vegetable garden that contributes to food security in society.
“Tsholetsa is not only uplifting beneficiaries at this centre, but it is also uplifting the standard of living in the section in which they are located by developing their capacity and putting food on the table,” said Mokua.
Meanwhile, Tlhogwe expressed his appreciation to the department, saying that the caretaker agreement was a culmination of a journey that started many years ago when he decided to create a platform not only for persons with disabilities like himself, but also for the unemployed youth in his area.
“A lot of us are talented, but we did not have a platform or place where we would be allowed to express and showcase our talents. Establishing this centre was one way of creating a one stop centre, where people can hone their skills while also making a living,” he said.
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