Qhakaza Disability Group celebrated Mandela Day by donating shoes to people with one leg at Blue Hall in Town Two on Saturday 20 July.
At least five boxes with one-sided shoes were donated by the non-profit organisation (NPO) which advocates for the rights of people with a disability.
Leader of Qhakaza in the Women’s Desk Nosiyabulela Gqwaka described the event as part of 67 minutes of Mandela Day celebrated on Thursday 18 July.
She said they aimed to fight and change the lives of the people living with disabilities.
“We were supposed to do the event on Mandela Day. But because of the bad weather, we decided to change to today (Saturday 20 July).
“These shoes are only for people who have one leg. We realised that some of them can’t afford to buy shoes because even though they have one leg, they have to pay for a pair. They end up not buying the shoes at all because they are too expensive. Others will tell you that it does not make sense to buy both while she or he is going to use one shoe,” explained Gqwaka.
She said they aim to ensure that everyone who is living with a disability is safe and recognised in the community.
Gqwaka stated that being disabled is a challenge.
“People sometimes call us names. We are marginalised on certain things in the communities.
“We have to be strong and fight for everything for us to be recognised,” she said.
She urged parents to stop locking their disabled children indoors, saying they must allow them to play with other children.
One of the beneficiaries, Xolile Ntsholo, from the G section in Town Two, said the shoes would make a huge difference.
He said it is not easy for them to buy shoes. “Shoes are too expensive, especially when you know that you only need one shoe.
“As people with one leg we feel that the shops are not lenient to us,” he said, and thanked Qhakaza for showing good heart to them.
