02 Jul 2015

People Living with Disabilities should benefit from all government programmes and initiatives designed to uplift them, says Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale.

He implored public officers, parastatals and the private sector to work together to address and assist People with Disabilities (PWDs).

Addressing people living with disabilities in Mabule on June 30, Mr Molale said the government was making an effort to develop its people, including PWDs, in order for them to contribute towards the country’s development.

Mr Molale urged public officers to commit to service delivery and to ensure that they assisted people with disabilities with the right amenities. He said it was proper for a person with disability to qualify for the old age pension and the food ration for the needy.

Good governance, Mr Molale said, was based on good service delivery, and that  it was only when people were well served that they would leave in harmony with each other without  complaining.

Mabule residents complained during the meeting that they were neglected, particularly people living with disability.   They told the minister that the assessment process to assist them took long and that some officers were unprofessional when executing their task.

Good Hope-Mabule deputy council secretary, Ms Keitumetse Moilwa said the council was doing all it could to assist PWD’s in the area. Ms Moilwa noted that the area had 586 registered PWD’s, adding that some of them were assisted through other programmes.

She said nine benefited from the Poverty Eradication Programme, 20 were absorbed in various schools across the country, and that 10 were employment while 85 were under the social and community development programme.

Kgosi Morotha Tiro of Mabule said living a life of disability was not an easy task, and thanked the government for having come up with programmes to assist them. 

He also applauded Ms Queen Maiketso, who took the initiative to work with PWD’s in the area and arranged for the meeting to take place.

Councillor Moses Semang also thanked all who made the day possible. ENDS