BLOEMFONTEIN: The Bloemfontein Transnet Engineering department continues its crucial support for the Kopano Protective Workshop, which empowers the physically disabled by providing basic skills. Employees of the state-owned freight transport and logistics infrastructure company held a braai day for people in the programme on 1 August, in the run-up to Casual Day in September.
Dawn Motloheloa, communication specialist at Transent Engineering, said the event formed part of the support programme for persons in the Kopano Protective Workshop skills empowerment programme. “The braai day is an employee initiative forming part of an outreach programme that sets out to help raise awareness about persons with disabilities, and that they have the potential to become economically active through programmes that suit their skill sets,” said Motloheloa.
The company’s significant role came in making provision for the workshop to operate from the premises since 2002. The workshop was also renovated to ensure that it fully accommodates disabled persons enlisted for skills training and the working production of the workshop. It currently caters for 56 people who have been identified as suitable to produce a range of items. These include ottomans, wrist beads and necklace beads, paintings, ornaments, cushions and tablecloths.
“The centre also has vegetable gardens, where fresh produce is harvested for the people’s consumption at their respective homes. Surplus is also sold to Transnet Engineering employees and externally,” said Motloheloa.
The Kopano Workshop offers opportunities for skills training and job placement.
