MEC Mokua hands over Caretakership Agreement to disability care centre during Department’s International Mandela Day Commemoration in Rustenburg...

In the first of its kind for the department, North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Sempe Elizabeth Mokua, today handed over the caretakership agreement to the Tsholetsa Disability Care Centre in Tlhabane, Rustenburg. The centre operates from one of the department’s under-utilised buildings that was previously Iteko Special School.

The caretaker agreement means that the department will still own the building while the non-profit organisation 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.

MEC Mokua commended the centre managers and founder, Richard Tlhogwe, for his bravery and vision. “As we commemorate the day dedicated to a true selfless leaders, Nelson Mandela, we should appreciate the work that you are doing that embodies the principles of Tata Madiba. Instead of just focusing on yourself, you made a bold move and chose not to just empower yourself but also extended services by assisting people with disability and many others related designated groups from your area,” the MEC said.

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,” the MEC said.

The centre manager, Richard 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,” Tlhogwe said.

Head of Department, Moses Kgantsi, said the caretakership agreement will benefit both the centre management and the department as they will not have the burden of paying monthly rentals while the department will be assured that this asset will not be vandalised. “We will further ensure that we provide the necessary support and ensure that we leave the building in a conducive condition.

As part of their contribution to the 67 Minutes for Mandela volunteer work, MEC Mokua, councillors from Rustenburg Local Municipality and the HOD joined the department’s management and technical teams in doing some work around the centre. The work done included painting of the office and kitchen; minor repairs and cleaning of the yard.

 Ends

____________________________________________________________________________________________________